NSW police chiefs to give evidence on Bondi Beach terror attack

The royal commission into antisemitism will resume in Sydney at 10am today. Senior police, including Deputy Commissioner for investigations and counter-terrorism David Hudson, are expected to once again give evidence about the beginning of the terror attack that killed 15 innocent people at Bondi Beach at Chanukah By The Sea in December.

If you missed yesterday’s hearing, Here’s what comes out:

• Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command inspector and commander “ABQ” (a pseudonym) emailed the command inspectors days before the festival to say there was “no need” to stay through the Chanukah Seaside event.
• Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna, commander of the Central Metropolitan Region, appeared and told the commission “Australia has changed since this terrible terrorist attack” and with it has changed its policing.
• Operation Shelter, designed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, was disbanded before the Bondi Beach terror attack.
• Jewish security group CSG told the commission that police had rejected its requests for officers to be permanently stationed at the festival, despite warnings of the risk of a possible terrorist attack.
• Jewish witnesses said they were frightened by “online hate” after giving evidence in offensive social media posts.