Police with rifles will patrol the Adelaide Oval for the third Ashes Test as a precaution following the Bondi Beach shooting, officials confirm.
ADELAIDE: Security will be significantly enhanced for the third Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval following the Bondi Beach shooting.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed extra protocols would be in place for the match starting Wednesday, despite no specific intelligence of an elevated threat.
“Given the events that have occurred in Sydney, there will be additional protocols put in place at Adelaide Oval,” he said.
“This is done only as a precautionary measure, but it is appropriate that we are an increasing sense of alertness just at the moment.”
The attack at a Jewish celebration in Sydney on Sunday killed 15 people and injured dozens.
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said special response officers armed with rifles would be visible in and around the stadium.
“There’s a balance between the concern about police officers carrying rifles in and about the community, balanced with the need for us to be able to effectively respond to an event,” Stevens said.
He stressed the measures were precautionary and the official threat level remained unchanged.
Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board issued a joint statement expressing they were “horrified” by the Bondi tragedy.
“All of our thoughts are with the victims, their friends and families, the Jewish community and the people of Australia at this deeply distressing time,” they said.
