Federal Government to announce plans to protect crowded places from terrorist incidents

In the wake of the tragic Barcelona van attack, in which it appears several Australians have been victims, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced that a new plan will be released on the protection of crowded places, such as sporting venues and shopping centres, to prevent similar deadly vehicle attacks.

Prime Minister Turnbull condemned the terrorist attack in Barcelona, saying Australia stands in “absolute, resolute solidarity” with the people of Spain in their fight against Islamisc terrorism.

He said he would “shortly” release a new plan detailing how authorities can protect crowded places in Australia.

In a joint news conference today with Tony Sheehan, the Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, and Duncan Lewis, the Director General of Security, Prime Minister Turnbull stated “we have seen how deadly vehicle attacks can be.

“We’ve seen it recently in London, of course, in the Borough Market attack and of course tragically in Australia, in the attack on the Bourke Street Mall.

“Following the truck attack in Nice last year ... I asked (then) Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Greg Moriarty, to work on protecting crowded places in Australia.

“That work has been completed now, and it will be released shortly.”

The attack on tourists in Barcelona followed a now familiar and indiscriminate.

Prime Minister Turnbull said his new plan was a “comprehensive analysis” that would provide advice and tools for the operators of large venues to make their venues safer for the public.

He explained “it is about protecting crowded places, which is a very complex issue.

“What we seek to ensure is that when a new venue is being built, a new centre or shopping centre or football stadium, or some new public space is being constructed, resilience is built into that.”

Asked if the report would recommend new construction around existing venues, he said people would have to wait and see, adding “we’ll have more to say when it is released, but it is obviously the responsibility of everyone to pay attention to the vulnerability of the crowded places that they’re therefore responsible, and to bear that in mind.”

Images: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (below) and enhanced security at the Sydney Opera House (below).

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