London terror attack: Sydney to step up security

CITY of Sydney will “seriously consider” installing additional bollards if police advise them to do so in the aftermath of this week’s attack in London, as NSW Police Force officers remain on high alert.

PM Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith

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CITY of Sydney will “seriously consider” installing additional bollards if police advise them to do so in the aftermath of this week’s devastating attack in London.

People are being urged to remain vigilant, though police have also moved to reassure the public that they should “go about their lives today, just as they did yesterday”.

“We are assessing security measures in accordance with the current threat level and in light of the events in London including government buildings where we (police) have a presence,” a police spokesman said.

A heavy security contingent at Parliament House. Picture: Kym Smith

PM Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith

“All law enforcement agencies are doing everything within their powers to keep the community safe.”

City of Sydney says it takes advice from police and emergency services when it comes to the location of bollards and other security measures.

“While there are no current plans in place to install additional bollards in the local area, the City would seriously consider and respond to any risk assessment carried out by NSW Police and state agencies,” a spokesman said.

He said public safety was the council’s “highest priority”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the nation needed to be “clear-eyed” about the risk of terror.

“It is real, and that is why the terror threat level has been set at probable since September 2014,” he said.

The PM expressed Australia’s “heartfelt sympathy and resolute solidarity” with its allies in the UK.

“Australians should be reassured … that our agencies are today, as every day, working relentlessly and tirelessly to keep our people safe,” he said.

“We are very alert to the vulnerabilities of places of mass gathering and open spaces and the risk of relatively unsophisticated attacks like that perpetrated in London. We have experienced them in Australia, most recently and tragically in Melbourne.

“Keeping Australians safe is our highest priority. It is our most solemn, our supreme obligation.”

Mr Turnbull said the government would “continue to provide our agencies with the resources and the powers they need at home to protect us and the powers they need to ensure that our armed forces have the ability to kill the terrorists in the field, whatever they may be doing”.

Counter-Terrorism Minister David Elliott said: “If there are any lessons for us to learn, I’ll be taking them to Cabinet.”

Counter-Terrorism Minister David Elliott. Picture: Justin Sanson

Mr Elliott urged people to remain vigilant and support suspicious activity.

“On the back of what’s happened in London, what we’re doing is making sure that the community is reassured that there is no direct threat to Australia,” he said.