NSW Police held ‘concerns’ about Opera House flag lighting, ‘further escalation of tensions’
Internal NSW Police emails have revealed the apprehension it held for the seemingly snap decision to light the Opera House in the colours of the Israeli flag on October 9.
NSW Police had “concerns” that the Minns government’s decision to light the Sydney Opera House in the colours of the Israeli flag could “cause additional problems in the community” and “increase tensions”.
Internal NSW Police emails have revealed the apprehension the force held for the – seemingly – snap decision to light the Opera House on Monday October 9.
According to those same documents, the police were only made aware of Premier Chris Minns’s decision to light the Opera House just before an official release was issued and covered in the media, on Sunday night.
Police were also made aware the city’s Palestinian community were “incensed by the decision” to light the sails.
On Monday 9 October, given safety concerns, Sydney’s Jewish community were told to stay away as the sails was lit up as a pro-Palestine march from Town Hall descended onto the Opera House and lit flares, chanted anti-Semitic slurs and burned the Israeli flag.
In a text exchange on the Sunday before Monday’s rally, senior ranking officer Scott Cook revealed the angst the commissioner had over the decision, and that they would be briefing the government of those concerns before the lighting of the sails.
“The commissioner is concerned the government’s decision to light the Opera House may cause us some additional problems in the community and is seeking an assessment on any additional threat it may cause,” Mr Cook wrote.
“... He will need to speak to the minister about any increased tension in the community this action may cause.”
In another email sent Sunday evening, just prior to the announcement, chief superintendent Christine McDonald emailed Mr Cook and another officer sharing the concerns she and acting commissioner David Hudson had.
“Mr Hudson and I are both equally concerned at the impact this might have on our streets, and potential further escalation of current tensions in the Jewish/Israeli communities,” Ms McDonald wrote.
Commissioner Karen Webb was on leave the week of Monday 9, with Mr Hudson acting commissioner for that week.
The documents also alluded to the last-minute decision by the premier to light the sails, and the equally last-minute communication of that decision to NSW Police.
“We have been advised that the Premier’s Office have indicated they will be lighting the sails in blue and white tomorrow,” Ms McDonald wrote at 6pm Sunday 8 October.
“Can we request an urgent threat assessment on what the impact and risk of lighting sails tomorrow evening may mean?”
Another email from an officer, once the news had broke on Sunday in the media at about 6:30pm, said: “FYI the news has just reported that the sails would be lit up tomorrow, so the cat’s out of the bag there”.
Such was the concern internally about the threat of “escalation”, the documents showed, NSW Police reached out to their Commonwealth counterparts – like the UK’s Metropolitan Police – to gauge if they had seen “fall out” in response to the lighting of monuments in the Israeli flag.
Police also received information that the Palestinian community were “incensed” about the decision to light the sails, and feared that tensions could rise and the pro-Palestine rally on October 9 could escalate.
“He (a name redacted) says the reason for the move (of the rally’s route) is the Opera House being lit up, (and that) is a significant concern for the Palestinian community and they are incensed by that decision (lighting the sails),” an inspector wrote to colleagues.
Another officer said, after a conversation with someone with knowledge of both the Palestinian community and rally, that he had learned the community “were outraged” by the premier’s decision and “adamant that tensions will escalate drastically”, revealing concerns the rally may be “infiltrated” to disrupt the lighting of the sails.
The organisers of that rally, correspondence showed, decided to march on the Opera House “to ensure they were seen”.
The Australian can also reveal that intelligence collected on the night of the rally confirmed that a Hezbollah flag was displayed at Opera House steps by attendees.
It comes as Deputy Premier Prue Car conceded at state budget estimates she was “not briefed” on the events transpiring at the Opera House, even though she was acting premier, given Mr Minns was on leave.
“I was not briefed about what was planned to occur that evening,” Ms Car said, who also confirmed she did not discuss the matter with the Ms Catley or the premier.
It is understood that although Ms Car was authorised to act, Mr Minns was available if required, and thus the deputy premier was not required to exercise any functions in an acting position.
The Australian reported on Sunday how a mosque in Kingsgrove held a commemoration for three deceased Hezbollah fighters, calling the trio “martyrs”.
NSW Police established Strike Force Mealing after the events on October 9, to investigate whether actions breached the Crimes Act, and if so, who. Operation Shelter was launched soon after, to co-ordinate the police’s response to all future Palestinian-related protest activity, as well as any anti-Semitic incidents across the state.
Last week, Commissioner Webb revealed 11 arrests had been made since that rally, with three people charged who attended over an alleged assault. Officers continue to scour footage to identity those at the Opera House who may have chanted anti-Semitic slurs.
Ms Catley was contacted for comment.
NSW Police declined to comment.
Additional reporting: Jessica Wang
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