06 Dec 2019 | 07:55 AM UTC
Australia: Additional armed police to patrol airports starting in December
Additional armed anti-terror police officers will patrol airports in Brisbane and Canberra during the Christmas holiday; heightened security measures anticipated at all airports
Event
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday, December 6, that additional armed police officers will be deployed to airports in Brisbane and Canberra during the upcoming Christmas holiday. An extra 135 anti-terror officers armed with rifles will patrol the airports, along with explosive-detection dogs. According to officials, additional anti-terror police patrols will be deployed to airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and the Gold Coast by June 2020. Similar measures will also be introduced in 2021 to airports in Cairns, Adelaide, and Darwin. As of Friday, Australia’s terror threat is rated as “probable” by the government.
A heightened security presence is anticipated at airports across Australia during the upcoming holiday season.
Advice
Travelers flying via airports in Australia, particularly in Brisbane and Canberra, are advised to anticipate a heightened security presence at airports, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the police, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.
