WA government meets with Jewish leaders after Bondi beach terror attack, increased police patrols
The WA premier and police commissioner met with Jewish leaders in Perth on Monday. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
In short:
WA Premier Roger Cook has met with Jewish leaders in Perth, the morning after the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
Authorities said there was no intelligence to suggest a heightened threat in WA, but WA police would be increasing patrols.
Jewish Community Council of WA President Michael Levitt said there had been "insufficient action" to prevent the attack.
WA Premier Roger Cook has labelled Sydney's Bondi Beach terror attack a "cowardly and heinous act of violence", but says there is no intelligence to suggest a heightened threat in the state.
Mr Cook, WA Police Minister Reece Whitby and WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch met with Jewish leaders this morning in Yokine, in Perth's northern suburbs, to reassure the community.
Mr Cook says he is shocked and saddened by the killings. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
"This is not Australia, this is not Western Australia," Mr Cook said after the meeting.
"And we all have a role to ensure that we continue to contribute to unity, solidarity, tolerance and a free and safe society."
The Bondi Beach shooting has been declared a terrorist attack. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
Mr Cook offered his "deepest condolences" to all those impacted and acknowledged the "extraordinary bravery" of the police, first responders and fast-acting members of the public.
"You are heroes — their swift and courageous actions undoubtably saved countless lives,"he said.
Two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening local time.
Floral tributes have been laid at the site of the mass shooting in Bondi. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
NSW authorities say 15 people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl. The total death toll is 16, including the gunman.
Extra patrols for Hanukkah
The premier said he was briefed by WA police who indicated there was no heightened threat in Western Australia, but officers had increased patrols and presence to reassure the community.
Police Minister Reece Whitby said WA police had launched an operation in response to the attack.
"The focus of Operation Dalewood will be to offer as much support and assistance as we possibly can to the NSW Police and NSW authorities as they grapple in the aftermath of this terror attack," he said.
"The other focus of Operation Dalewood will be the saturation in terms of police security presence in an overt and covert manner at places of worship — at schools, at community organisations right across Perth."
The meeting comes as members of the Jewish community are in mourning. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
Mr Whitby said an "extra effort" would be made during the week of Hanukkah and beyond to ensure the Jewish community was safe, noting it extended to all communities of faith.
Mr Whitby says police are ramping up patrols, but there is no indication of an increased threat in WA. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
"This is not about groups being against each other, this is about vile criminal terrorist individuals," he said.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the attack had "strengthened" law enforcement's resolve to "act even quicker" and work better with the community.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch says there is a "zero tolerance" approach to antisemitism. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
"I know certainly from the meeting that I was just in, our job is to listen and act as soon as possible," Mr Blanch said.
The commissioner reiterated the two attackers "are not West Australians, have not been to Western Australia" and said there was no intelligence to suggest they have had any impact on the state.
Anger and sadness
Jewish Community Council of WA President Michael Levitt said Perth's Jewish community had been significantly impacted.
"We are sad and angry that something that we have been warning about and that we believe was predictable has been the subject of such insufficient action," he said.
Dr Levitt believes the attack was predictable. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
"We are incredibly grateful to the WA state government and to the WA police force and their representatives for their strong, clear and consistent support with our community."
Rabbi Marcus Solomon, who is also a WA Supreme Court judge, said he personally knew two of the rabbis killed in the attack.
He said his son, a Sydney rabbi, worked very closely with them — speaking with one on a daily basis.
"He's dealing with an enormous amount of trauma as well as personal loss,"Rabbi Solomon said.
"The Jewish community is interconnected in so many ways across borders, and what happens to the Jewish community of Sydney is felt acutely by Jewish communities around Australia and indeed around the world."
Rabbi Marcus Solomon said his son was dealing with personal loss in the wake of the attack. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
Mr Cook urged people to donate blood if they were able to, especially O negative and O positive donors, echoing calls from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
Later Mr Cook, Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas and Nationals Leader Shane Love placed wreaths and signed a condolence book at Government House.
Wreaths were laid at Government House in Perth to commemorate the victims of the Bondi shooting tragedy. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
Governor of WA Chris Dawson and Police Commissioner Col Blanch also laid wreaths.
Several MPs from across party lines were also seen paying their respects.
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