More details about the Sydney terror attack have emerged. NSW Police Chief Mal Lanyon confirmed the two attackers – a 50-year-old man and a 24-year-old man – were father and son.
The father was killed by police gunfire, while the son is in critical but stable condition in hospital. Lanyon said police are not looking for other perpetrators.
“As part of the investigation, last night we executed two search warrants, one in Bonnyrigg and a second in Campsie. The 50-year-old man holds a firearms license. He has six weapons with a firearms license.
The police have not yet confirmed the motives behind the attack and say they are looking into them as part of the investigation,” he said, among other things. The police chief also said there was nothing “to suggest that either of the two men involved in yesterday’s attack had planned it”.
Lanyon also says there was “very limited information” about the younger man, who authorities say was known to Asio, Australia’s intelligence agency.
“Our researchers are working non-stop. I am extremely proud of the work that has been accomplished so far. We want to understand the motivation behind the attack. We definitely want to understand the actions that took place. I cannot comment continuously on the research…” he pointed out.
“Measures will be taken”
New South Wales Premier Chris Means said there would “almost certainly” be reform of the law following this terror attack.
He was questioned about whether there was an oversight in obtaining a gun license from the father and the fact that the two men were not located by authorities before the attack.
Means replied that he “cannot say at this stage” whether there was an omission and that police would carry out their investigation.
“There will be a comprehensive investigation. This is a massive terrorist incident in Australia’s largest city, targeting Jewish Australians. We need to find out exactly how it happened so we can take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I think in these circumstances it is important to look at all the evidence and give NSW Police time to investigate, but we must do everything possible to ensure it does not happen again. Part of that may be law reform, and it almost certainly will be. Part of that will be a comprehensive police response, but it will also reach the level of dealing with racism and anti-Semitism in our community,” he pointed out.
Explosives were also found
NSW Police Chief Mal Lanyon confirms there were two active Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) found at the scene.
“Two IEDs were found at the scene and received by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Rescue Unit. They were found to be active mechanisms. Thus, they were received and neutralized by our police, who did a professional job,” Mr. Lanion emphasized.
Lanyon said he was “very happy” the devices were not activated.
