DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN: Top Cop Warns of “Significant Concerns” Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March to Sydney Opera House
- A senior NSW Police officer has expressed grave concerns over a planned pro-Palestinian march to the Sydney Opera House, warning it has “disaster written all over it”.
- The Palestine Action Group intends to hold the rally on Sunday, despite police fears for public safety and crowd control.
- The Opera House’s acting CEO has revealed that “full security screening” would be deployed in the event of a mass gathering, including X-ray screening and visual inspections.
In a shocking admission, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told a Sydney court that the planned pro-Palestinian march to the Sydney Opera House has all the makings of a disaster. “It has disaster written all over it,” he warned, citing concerns over crowd control, public safety, and communication breakdowns.
The Palestine Action Group (PAG) has applied for a permit to hold the rally on Sunday, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. However, the NSW Police Force is seeking a prohibition order to prevent the march, citing concerns over the safety of participants and the general public.
Under cross-examination, Assistant Commissioner McKenna expressed scepticism over the plan to stagger the procession to the Opera House, warning that it was “not that simple” and that communication would be a major challenge. He also questioned the effectiveness of using marshals to disperse the crowd, saying it seemed “farcical” to expect people to simply walk through and then leave.
Felicity Graham, representing the protest group, suggested that the crowd may be managed through “altruism and mutual assistance”, but Assistant Commissioner McKenna countered that even the best of intentions couldn’t compensate for the physical realities of the situation.
The Opera House’s acting CEO, Jade McKellar, revealed that in the event of a mass gathering, “full security screening” would be deployed, including X-ray screening, wanding, and visual inspections. She also confirmed that the Opera House had technology to monitor crowd sizes in the forecourt area.
The court is set to hear further submissions on the matter, including a constitutional argument flagged in the Supreme Court. The case has been moved to the Court of Appeal due to its complexity and urgency.
As tensions rise ahead of the planned rally, the community remains on high alert. With the Opera House’s iconic status and the passion of the protesters, the stage is set for a dramatic and potentially explosive confrontation.