Brookvale Oval: Safety review at NRL venue in wake of deadly US, Europe vehicle terrorism attacks
Crowd safety measures are set to be boosted around a popular Sydney NRL venue in the wake of recent deadly car-ramming terror attacks in the United States and Europe.
Jim O'RourkeManly
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Crowd safety measures are set to be boosted around Brookvale Oval — the home of the NRL Sea Eagles — in the wake of recent deadly car-ramming terror attacks in the United States and Europe.
Northern Beaches Council has confirmed it is working with local police to review security in “crowded places” like “Brooky” to protect pedestrians from potential copycat incidents.
Upcoming public events such as the Australia Day breakfast BBQ at Newport Beach and the community Sun Run, from Dee Why to Manly on February 1, will also be assessed by authorities.
Confirmation of the risk review at Brookvale Oval comes after independent councillor Vincent De Luca requested information from the council over his concerns about the increased risks of copycat-style terrorism.
The pick-up truck that a man drove into a crowd on Bourbon St in New Orleans, killing 14 people. The driver was shot and killed by police. Picture: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
The safety reviews come just weeks after 15 people died when a pick-up truck, driven by a US Army veteran, smashed into New Years’s Eve revellers in New Orleans.
The FBI said Shamsud-Din Jabbar was allegedly “hellbent” on killing as many people as possible when the vehicle careered down Bourbon St before he was killed in a shootout with police.
First responders at the car-ramming terror incident on December 20 in Magdeburg, Germany, which left five people dead and 200 injured. Picture: Craig Stennett/Getty Images
In the German city of Magdeburg, five people were killed and 200 injured on December 20 when a car ploughed into a night Christmas market. A 50-year-old psychiatrist, Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, a Saudi Arabian citizen, was arrested at the scene.
During recent risk assessment discussions between Northern Beaches Police and the council,
Brookvale Oval (4 Pines Park) was identified as a location that would be subject to further review to ensure patron safety on game days.
The council has installed bollards at Manly Wharf to protect pedestrians from potential car-ramming attacks. Picture: Damian Shaw
Vehicle impact barriers on Bourbon St, New Orleans. Picture: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
The review would be undertaken before the start of the upcoming NRL season in March.
“The safety of all attendees at this nationally renowned stadium is essential,” Cr De Luca said.
“I applaud the measures to ensure that those who attend Brookvale Oval are safe.
“Sadly, with increasing attacks in public spaces, we must be vigilant and take measures so this cannot happen.”
Council officials noted that it had previously installed bollards and devices to help prevent vehicles leaving roads and entering high pedestrian traffic areas such as Manly Wharf and The Corso, as a response to car terrorism attacks in France in 2016.
During major public events, the council adds temporary vehicle barriers at the direction of police and in response to risk assessments for various events.
The assessments are based on the federal government’s National Guidelines and use other references including the US-based Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s “Vehicle Ramming Action Guide”.
The entrance plaza to Brookvale Oval, seen from the intersection of Pittwater and Alfred roads at Brookvale. Picture: Google Maps
The Northern Beaches Police Area Command would not comment specifically on what would be done to boost pedestrian safety at Brookvale Oval, or other locations, for “security reasons”.
Police met regularly with the council to “discuss security arrangements for event-based and location-based activities”, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
“Those discussions capture crime prevention strategies,” the statement read.
“For security reasons, police will not comment on what those arrangements are.”
The council also declined to release details of the risk assessments.
The current federal government National Terrorism Threat level is set at “Probable”.
