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Australian Authorities to Protect 2006 Commonwealth Games Against Terrorist WMD Threat
Australia is preparing extensive security measures for next year’s Commonwealth Games in light of a recent al-Qaeda video naming Melbourne as a terror target, the New Zealand Herald reported today (see GSN, July 30). Chemical and biological warfare teams, fighter jets, and special forces backed by Black Hawk helicopters will be deployed to monitor the games, according to the Herald. All leave and training for Victoria police will be canceled during the games, which is scheduled from March 15 to 26. A 1,200-person military task force is also expected to conduct patrols and searches. Melbourne plans to conduct extensive random searches of people and vehicles at the games, Attorney General Philip Ruddock said yesterday. “There will be a range of chemical, biological and radiological response assets,” Ruddock added. Australia has scheduled a national counterterror exercise, Mercury ’05, for next month. In addition, Prime Minister John Howard has proposed laws that would allow for strict security checks and random searches for airport personnel, yearlong police monitoring of suspected terrorists and special police powers to detain suspects for up to 48 hours in the event of an attack, the Herald reported (Greg Ansley, New Zealand Herald, Sept. 21).
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