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| Down Under |
| Police brace for armed thugs on Sydney beaches |
| 2005-12-16 |
| New South Wales police have received reports that people armed with firearms and other weapons are planning to head for some of Sydney's beaches over the weekend to continue the ethnic violence, Assistant Commissioner Mark Goodwin says. Police have arrested 19 people in Sydney overnight using new powers given to them by state Parliament on Thursday. Officers stopped a car in Matraville just after midnight and allegedly found swords and a dagger. A 17-year-old from Castle Hill was arrested and charged with possessing offensive weapons and the car was seized. People are being asked to stay away from beaches at Wollongong, Cronulla, Sydney's east, Newcastle and the Central Coast. "Some of those [reports] do involve firearms, mostly it involves baseball bats, sticks and weapons to have it out on the beach by both sides," Assistant Commissioner Goodwin said. Police say there will be road blocks, as they use their new powers to lock down areas, and signs indicating which areas to avoid. An extra 1,500 officers will be based between Newcastle and Wollongong on Saturday, with that number increasing to 2,000 on Sunday. In other developments: Some of Australia's most famous entertainers have gathered together to call for an end to the prejudice that led to violence across Sydney this week. (Full Story) Two men charged with making explosives have been refused bail after appearing in a Sydney court. (Full Story) |
| Posted by:Oztralian |