South Australian Police will be carrying rifles and exercising additional weapon and drug search powers at the Adelaide Oval during the Third Ashes Test, following the Bondi terror attack on Sunday.
As the first day of the Test kicked off this morning, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said every bag would be searched and asked for the crowd’s patience as they entered the Oval each day.
“The Test match in Adelaide is the first major event in Australia since the tragic incident at Bondi,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“So we are exercising that level of vigilance as a reassurance piece and also to make sure that we’re taking advantage of all the authorities available to police to provide a safe and secure environment.”
SAPOL’s Adelaide Oval Declared Public Precinct application was granted by the state’s Attorney-General earlier this week. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)
The Police Commissioner reiterated there was no specific information or intelligence that indicated any higher level of threat for the South Australian community.
“We are doing this as a measure to reassure the community of South Australia that they are safe when attending the Test,” he said.
Commissioner Stevens didn’t disclose the number of extra officers deployed to the event.
“It will be obvious to people attending that there are extra police in and around the venue, particularly around on the outside of the perimeter.
“You will see our security response section personnel in and about the venue every single day of the Test, and they will be carrying rifles as they are trained and authorised to do so.”
SAPOL’s Adelaide Oval Declared Public Precinct application was granted by the state’s Attorney-General earlier this week.
Security guards checking bags ahead of the Test at Adelaide Oval. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)
It allows police to exercise elevated powers to use metal detectors to search for weapons, carry out general drug detection activities and ban people from the precinct who may pose a risk to the public.
The precinct includes the northern boundary of Pennington Terrace from Montefiore Road to King William Street, and the eastern boundary of King William Road from Pennington Terrace to the southern River Torrens bank. Then the southern boundary of the River Torrens to Montefiore Road and western boundary of Montefiore Road to Pennington Terrace.
Commissioner Stevens said the precinct declaration will operate for the duration of the Adelaide Test match and said the potential for future event declarations will be assessed on merit.
‘True Blue’ tribute
At the opening of the Test a moment’s silence was held for the victims of the Bondi terror attack, followed by Australian singer John Williamson performing his song ‘True Blue’ as a tribute.
John Williamson sings ‘True Blue’ in dedication to the victims of the Bondi attack. (Getty Images: Sarah Reed/Cricket Australia)
Cricket Australian chief executive officer Todd Greenberg said in a statement that it was a tragic time for all Australians and the thoughts of everyone were with the victims of the attack.
“While sport can seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay tribute, to console and to contemplate what we want our nation to be,” Mr Greenberg said.