N.Y., L.A. police bolster security during Hanukkah after Sydney attack
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor of New York City Eric Adams in New York City in November. Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images
The mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, prompted police in New York and Los Angeles to step up security protections for the first night of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah on Sunday.
The big picture: While there were no known threats locally, police departments in N.Y. and L.A. announced enhanced protections during Hanukkah celebrations in the wake of the Sydney terrorist attack that killed 15 people as about 1,000 people gathered for a "Chanukah by the Sea" event.
State of play: NYC Mayor Eric Adams condemned the attack at a briefing announcing updated security measures during Hanukkah celebrations, saying: "This was just not a random act of violence that took place. It was antisemitic and targeted Jewish people."
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at the briefing while "we are not tracking any specific credible threats related to Hanukkah" in NYC, "out of an abundance of caution" the city's police had "significantly increased security" around the Jewish festival of lights.
- "You will see an enhanced uniform presence, specialized patrols, heavy weapons teams, community affairs officers, counterterrorism resources and bomb squad deployments where appropriate" during the holiday, Tisch said.
Zoom in: On NYC's Long Island, Suffolk County Police Department said in a statement it's "monitoring" developments following the Sydney attack.
- "While there are no threats locally, the department is in constant contact with its law enforcement partners," per the statement posted to the police department's social media accounts that urged anyone who sees suspicious activity to contact emergency services.
- "As always, the department has stepped up patrols around religious institutions during the holidays and has now enhanced those efforts. We are reaching out to Jewish community leaders."
In California, the L.A. Police Department announced that it's also stepping up protections for the Jewish community.
- "While there is no known threat to Los Angeles at this time, the LAPD remains vigilant and committed to protecting our diverse communities," according to the statement posted to the department's social media accounts.
- "As part of this commitment, the LAPD will provide extra patrols at Jewish facilities, schools, synagogues, and at Hanukkah events throughout the city."
Zoom out: Police in countries including France, Germany, New Zealand, Poland and the U.K. have also announced enhanced security measures during Hanukkah events in response to the Bondi Beach attack.
Go deeper: What to know about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack
