Victoria Police has been given additional authority to identify and search members of the public in specific areas ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Melbourne tomorrow. Herzog is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne from Canberra, following his meeting with mourners and survivors of the Bondi Terror Attack in Sydney earlier this week.
It is anticipated that up to 5,000 demonstrators will gather at Flinders Street Station at 5pm tomorrow to express their opposition to the president’s arrival. This event has sparked significant public interest and concern, particularly due to the sensitive nature of the visit and the potential for unrest.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Bob Hill stated that the Supreme Court has granted police special powers under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act as a “precautionary measure.” According to Hill, these powers allow Victoria Police to seek the identities of individuals passing through certain locations, conduct searches on individuals and vehicles, and cordon off specific areas.
“The powers are specifically targeted at areas that the president will visit and will not directly impact or interfere with lawful protest activities that may occur in Melbourne tomorrow evening,” Hill explained.
The exact locations where these powers will be applied have not been disclosed to ensure the safety of the president. Hill emphasized that the national terrorism threat level remains ‘probable,’ but there are currently no active security threats against Herzog in Victoria.
“We want to clarify that there is no intelligence at this time indicating that the event is the target of any specific threat,” Hill said. “However, we are well-prepared for both the visit and any associated protest activity this week, and we have sufficient police resources available to respond effectively to any incidents.”
On Monday, around 5,000 protesters gathered at Flinders Street Station. Hill noted that the protest was largely peaceful, with the majority of participants behaving appropriately. He expressed confidence that Thursday’s protests would follow a similar pattern.
“We respect the right of individuals to protest, provided it is done lawfully and peacefully. Our primary objective is to ensure the safety of all involved, and we will work with all parties to achieve this.”
Herzog’s four-day visit to Australia has been met with controversy, as several protests have disrupted cities across the country. In Sydney, clashes between police and protesters resulted in the arrest of 27 people, nine charges being filed, and five individuals requiring hospitalisation.
As the situation unfolds, Victoria Police continues to monitor developments closely and remain committed to maintaining public order while respecting the rights of those who wish to express their views.
