A Jewish security organization warned police there was a high risk of a terror attack during the Chanukah by the Sea event in Bondi, just weeks before their fears became a reality, a leaked document reveals.
The confidential document produced by the Community Security Group NSW (CSG NSW) raised the alarm about the threat of Islamic extremism and Jihadist-inspired lone-actor attacks, the ABC reports.
In the notice, CSG NSW specifically told authorities the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach on December 14 carried a high risk of being the target of violent antisemitism.
“The NSW Jewish Community is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of vilification and a significant increase in incidents impacting the Community,” the document titled Jewish Festival Calendar Notification and dated November 26 states.
“Hostile actors have historically targeted Jewish and Israeli interests in retaliation for developments in the ongoing Middle East conflict and to intimidate local entities perceived as affiliated with Israel.”
The assessment pointed to ASIO’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment and highlighted the risk of “lone-actor attacks inspired by global jihadist propaganda.”
“While Islamic State and al-Qaeda have lost territorial control, their ideology persists and resonates with individuals online,” it read.
The document singled out “Sunni violent extremism” as the greatest religiously motivated threat to Australia and warned of the threat of both left-wing and far-right extremism, referencing a neo-Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament in November and citing ASIO’s risk assessment.
NSW Police would not confirm or deny receiving the document when contacted by news.com.au, citing the ongoing critical incident investigation, criminal investigation and upcoming inquest, saying it was imperative any comment did not prejudice court proceedings.
It comes as they face criticisms that there were not enough police officers on hand at the December 14 event where two armed men, wearing black, started shooting at beachgoers and revellers shortly after 6.40pm.
Fifteen people were murdered and 40 injured when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire from a footbridge during a Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach.
One of the shooters also died at the scene.
The younger gunman was injured but has recovered and is now in custody.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong told The Advertiser she was “desperately sorry” for the tragedy, and conceded the government could have done more to combat rising anti-Semitism.
“I’m desperately sorry for what has occurred in our country and what the Jewish community have experienced,” she said on Friday.
Senator Wong said: “You always regret what more could have been done … We acted, but we have to do more – and we are.
“I think the two aspects of reform that we’re engaging in now are really important, both in terms of gun control, but also we acted on hate speech, but we clearly need to go further.”
Ms. Wong also condemned the slogans, “From the River to the Sea” and “Globalise the Intifada,” saying she agrees with anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal that they “have been used to whip up anger and hatred of the Jewish people.”
Her apology comes after Opposition leader Sussan Ley attacked Ms. Wong earlier this week for not visiting the site of the horrific mass shooting.
“I haven’t seen Penny Wong shed a single tear,” she said.
The government has been weathering criticism for not doing more to stem rising anti-Semitism in the lead up to the terror attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week rejected that Australia’s recognition of Palestine contributed to the events of December 14.
“It is very clear from the evidence … that this was an ISIS-inspired attack,” Mr. Albanese said.
“ISIS is an ideology, a perversion of Islam that essentially doesn’t agree with any recognition of nation states, [that] seeks a caliphate.”
“These people weren’t shy about their motivation, and it is there for people to see. And I think that people should look at those facts which are there.”
Meanwhile in an address on Christmas Day, Mr. Albanese described the country’s worst terror attack in history as “beyond comprehension”.
“What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone? We know that there is evil presence.
“But at the same time, as we’ve seen the worst of evil and the worst of humanity, we have seen the best of humanity,” he said.
Despite calls to the contrary, the Albanese government has defended its decision not to launch a federal royal commission into the attack, with the Prime Minister saying it would take too long.
Instead, he has announced reviews into intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies which will feed into NSW’s royal commission.
According to Friday’s NSW Health update, 11 of those injured still remain in hospital nearly two weeks later, with two in a critical but stable condition.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.