SYDNEY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Around 250 heavily armed police officers will form a permanent unit to rapidly respond to hate-related offenses in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), authorities announced on Wednesday.
Chris Minns, the premier of NSW, on Wednesday said that a temporary rapid response operation that was established in 2023 amid a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across Sydney will become a permanent unit within the state's police force.
He said in a joint statement with Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism of NSW Yasmin Catley and Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper that the permanent unit will quickly respond to hate-related threats, protect places of worship and major events, and provide a visible police presence.
"This is about putting the right structure in place so police are always ready," Minns said.
The unit will be made up of around 250 dedicated police officers equipped with long-arm rifles as well as civilian staff and a fleet of specially modified rapid-response vehicles.
Heavily armed officers from the initial rapid response operation patrolled eastern Sydney following the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, 2025.
Mal Lanyon, commissioner of the NSW Police Force, said that it is essential in the aftermath of the Bondi attack that officers with long-arm capability are able to provide an enhanced rapid response. ■