Armed police start patrols in Sydney after Bondi Beach attack
The new police unit is a security measure in response to last year's deadly shooting attack at a Hanukkah festival.
Heavily-armed police officers have started patrolling Sydney's streets, as part of heightened security measures following last year's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach.
The Armed Response Command (ARC) will see specially trained officers in busy tourist areas carrying long-arm rifles – an unfamiliar sight for most residents.
New South Wales police say the officers will also patrol major events like sports matches and places of worship "to prevent, deter and rapidly respond to serious threats, including active armed offender incidents".
The shooting on 14 December put huge pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government, with calls for immediate action on antisemitism.