Armed Response Command Deploys Rifles on Sydney Streets After Bondi Beach Mass Shooting

Heavily‑armed police officers have begun patrolling Sydney’s streets as part of a new security initiative launched after last year’s deadly Bondi Beach shooting.

The Armed Response Command (ARC) deploys specially trained officers to busy tourist districts, major sporting events and places of worship, each carrying long‑arm rifles – a sight described as “unfamiliar” by many locals.

“They are just everywhere. Those guns are huge.” one resident told ABC news, calling the presence of armed police “unnerving”.

Another woman said the sight of officers with weapons made her feel safe.

New South Wales police say ARC will “prevent, deter and rapidly respond to serious threats, including active armed offender incidents”.

The December 14 attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach left fifteen dead, including a 10‑year‑old girl, marking Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost three decades and prompting sweeping gun‑law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans explained that ARC’s role is “built on a simple principle – preserving life”.

Jewish communities have welcomed the operation, which will eventually involve 250 officers, while others call for safeguards to protect human rights.

“No Australian wants to see officers with military weapons on our streets, but the sight of body bags is far worse,” said Alex Ryvchin, co‑CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Amnesty International Australia expressed concern about the “militarisation of policing” and asked the state government for assurances that ARC will not be used to suppress peaceful protests.

ARC is described as “highly visible across Sydney, driving specialist vehicles and carrying rifles”, according to a police statement.

The deployment reflects ongoing pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to act on antisemitism and public safety after the Bondi Beach tragedy.

As the program rolls out, Sydney residents will continue to see armed officers on the streets, a development that has sparked both reassurance and unease across the city.