Bondi royal commission: report calls for better policing of Jewish festivals after ‘high’ terror risk flagged for Hanukah event

Sydney’s Jewish community told police of a “high” threat of an attack at December’s Chanukah by the Sea festival at Bondi beach, but New South Wales police appeared not to have completed a comprehensive risk assessment for the event, an interim royal commission report has found. The interim report of the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, established in the wake of December’s terror attack, found no gap in current laws that could have prevented the shooting. But it did call for greater coordination of policing at Jewish festivals and events. Among the 14 recommendations outlined in the report, the royal commission said the federal government’s counter-terrorism coordinator should become a full-time position; the commonwealth and states should finalise nationally consistent gun laws and prioritise a proposed post-Port Arthur style gun buyback; and that joint counter-terrorism teams across Australia be reviewed. Five recommendations remained classfied. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The report, handed down by commissioner Virginia Bell on Thursday, also warned that the current war being waged against Iran by the United States and Israel “is likely to have increased the risk of attacks directed at the Australian Jewish community”. …