Gold Coast Police on high alert for Anzac Day over terror concerns
GOLD Coast police will be on high alert in case of terrorist attack on Anzac Day, with record crowds expected to attend commemorative services.
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GOLD Coast police will be on high alert in case of terrorist attack on Anzac Day, with record crowds expected to attend commemorative services.
Extra officers, including the dog squad and mounted division, will be out in force to keep the peace and ensure the day’s ceremonies go off without a hitch.
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It comes after a year of mounting nationalist and anti-Islamic tensions, the December 2014 Sydney siege and the ongoing conflict with Islamic State in the Middle East.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also used advice warning Australians travelling to Turkey for Anzac services to “exercise a high degree of caution … because of the threat of terrorist attack”.
Gold Coast Acting Chief Superintendent Des Lacy confirmed police counterterrorism contingencies would be part of police planning for the commemoration ceremonies.
“We always consult our counterterrorism plans for an event like this,” he said.
“We have to rely on intelligence for these plans and work closely with the intelligence command in Brisbane to make sure we do assessments on every venue.
“This is a significant year and we make sure our plans for the day take in any intelligence which is received but it should be a wonderful day to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.”
Police are expecting a 15 per cent rise in the number of people attending Gold Coast ceremonies across the Coast, including the Currumbin Dawn service, set to draw a crowd of around 30,000 people.
Senior officers and representatives of the Major Events unit have met for more than a year to prepare for the day of commemoration.
Acting Chief Supt Lacy said he did not expect officers would face public order troubles during the ceremonies.
“We expect to have a significant number of police out there and every available resource will be on the ground on the day,” he said.
“I can say now there will not be too many officers taking that day off between Upper Coomera and the border.
“At this stage we believe it will just be an enjoyable and certainly memorable day.”
Also under the watchful eye of the law will be the small number Gold Coasters who will be among the 8100 Australians attending the centennial services in Gallipoli.
The Department of Veteran Affairs was unable to provide The Gold Coast Bulletin with the number of Gold Coast residents or Queenslanders who will be travelling abroad for the ceremony.
There will also be a further 2050 New Zealanders and around 350 official guests from nations involved in the 1915 campaign.
Don’t miss our special 24-page Anzac lifeout on April 18.
Originally published as Gold Coast Police on high alert for Anzac Day over terror concerns
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