David Hudson, deputy police commissioner of New South Wales (NSW), testified before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that officers on December 14 were “placed at significant risk, being in a gunfight armed with 9mm Glocks against long-arms,” as reported by the Guardian. The police put themselves in danger to confront and neutralize the attackers.
Hudson acknowledged that a plan to establish an armed response unit of 210 officers with long-barreled weapons had been “accelerated” but would still take at least twelve months to be fully staffed. The NSW Police Association had urged police leadership and the government to more consistently equip officers with long-barreled weapons after the attack.
The attack at Bondi Beach, which killed several people, sparked a nationwide debate on police equipment. The Royal Commission is investigating not only the police response but also antisemitic incidents and social cohesion in Australia.
Source: www.theguardian.com
