SYDNEY, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Police in Australia’s New South Wales state said on Saturday they would bolster staffing at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the fifth Ashes test starting on Sunday, weeks after gunmen killed 15 people at a Jewish event in the city.
The father-and-son gunmen are alleged to have carried out the attack at a Hanukkah event at the famed Bondi Beach on December 14. Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost three decades, the attack shocked the nation and stoked fears of rising antisemitism in the country.
The massacre has sparked more active policing in Sydney, Australia’s most populous city and the state capital.
Authorities said a “high-visibility” police presence at the SCG, located around 5 km (3.1 miles) from Bondi Beach, would include the riot patrol unit, officers on horseback and officers carrying rifles.
“The difference will be in the visibility of long arms and a stronger presence,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said in a statement.
Police said they expected a capacity crowd for day one of the fixture between England and Australia, the final encounter in the five-match series already claimed by Australia.
“Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events, but our objective here is to help the public feel safe,” Lanyon said.
On Wednesday, around 3,000 police, some carrying long arms, were deployed in the city during New Year celebrations, which typically attract over a million revellers.
Several New Year events planned at Bondi were cancelled, while traditional Christmas celebrations there were muted, following the attack that authorities believe was inspired by Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State.
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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