Sydney installs loudspeakers in case of terror attack
Australia’s largest city has installed dozens of loudspeakers to tell residents what to do in a terrorist attack.
About 40 speakers should be operational in Sydney in time for next month’s meeting of 21 world leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, said New South Wales state Police Minister David Campbell.
“If there were a terrorist event or a major building fire and there were people in the streets, this is a way of giving them information,” Campbell said.
A wailing siren would attract residents’ attention, followed by a police announcement directing people to evacuation points.
Meanwhile, a senior police chief involved in planning for September’s Apec summit said authorities could order office workers to remain inside their buildings if a bomb were to explode nearby.
Superintendent Greg Rolph acknowledged public fears about possible building collapses in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US, but said staying inside offices was usually the safest option.
