Australia police in extremist 'shoot on sight' training

Image
AFP Sydney
Last Updated : Nov 17 2015 | 2:57 PM IST
Australian police are being trained to shoot armed extremists on sight, it emerged today, in a change of tactics from "contain and negotiate" amid fears of further terrorist attacks.
Canberra has become increasingly concerned about the prospect of lone-wolf attacks by individuals inspired by groups such as Islamic State, and a tightening of counter-terrorism laws is underway.
Six attacks in Australia have been foiled over the past 12 months, according to the government, but several have not, including a police employee being shot in the back of the head in Sydney last month by a teenager.
In response the country's most populous state, New South Wales, has begun training police to shoot armed attackers immediately, rather than the "contain and negotiate" protocol that has been in place for decades.
"We're at a point now where the ground has shifted, things have changed and starting with Mumbai onwards there's been any number of attacks where you have a mobile enemy force, which moves through places and kills people," Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas told 2UE radio.
"We would be mad to continue to say we will do nothing but contain and negotiate."
In November 2008, 166 people were killed in Mumbai when Islamist gunmen stormed luxury hotels, the main railway station, a Jewish centre and other sites in the booming Indian metropolis.
Since then, radical Islamist groups or individuals have carried out a number of attacks, culminating in the atrocities in Paris on Friday that left 129 dead.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said police forces needed all the resources and powers they could get to ensure the community was safe.
"These brutal terrorists do not negotiate," she said.
"I believe that Australian law enforcement authorities need all of the powers that they can to ensure that Australians can be kept safe."
Kaldas stressed the "shoot on sight" order would not be appropriate in all circumstances.
Authorities raised Australia's terror threat alert to high just over a year ago, introduced new national security laws, and have since conducted several counter-terrorism raids.
The moves followed Melbourne police shooting dead a "known terror suspect" who stabbed two officers in September 2014, just one day after IS militants called for indiscriminately killing Australians.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 17 2015 | 2:57 PM IST

Next Story