A girl wearing a hijab carries toy rifle into Prince of Wales Hospital
THE Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick has described a teenage girl in a hijab-like garment, carrying a replica rifle into the building, as a ‘potential security incident’.
Southern Courier
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THE Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick has described a teenage girl wearing a hijab-like garment, carrying a replica rifle into the building, as a ‘potential security incident’.
About 9am yesterday, the young woman appeared outside Prince of Wales Hospital carrying the realistic looking weapon.
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Witness Eunice said security staff were slow to react to the incident.
“I approached them to check the gun,” she said.
“They showed me a plastic machine gun and I said [to the girl] ‘you can’t play with toy guns around here and you can't take that into the hospital because people are scared’.”
She said despite her warnings, the young girl walked into the hospital cafe, leaving a woman on the information desk “freaking out”.
“(She called) security five times, she was very concerned, (she was) freaking out, poor lady.”
Police from Eastern Beaches Local Area Command attended the hospital grounds after receiving calls of a replicas firearm.
“The (girl) had already left the location,” a police spokeswoman said.
“The girl and her family have since been located and spoken to.”
Police confirmed the ‘gun’ was a toy and it was not illegal to have a gun identified as a “toy”.
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Meanwhile, people who have since seen the photos of the girl carrying the replica have expressed their outrage over the incident.
“This is disgraceful, anyone in their right mind knows this is not on, taking a toy gun out anywhere to frighten people,” Amber Griffiths said.
“A hospital of places too where many are feeling their most vulnerable.”
Nada Vucetic said: “Is this a test run and will the next time be a real one?”
A South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesman said the district held the responsibility for staff and visitor security as its top priority.
“We have launched an investigation to ensure all protocols have been followed,” the spokesman said.
“We will be working with NSW Police to ensure all protocols for responding to such incidents are followed.