Sydney has welcomed the New Year with a message of peace following the Bondi Beach mass shooting, as huge crowds gathered to watch the city's annual fireworks display. The words peace and unity were projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as thousands of heavily armed police officers patrolled the streets - a rare and stark sight in Australia - as part of heightened security measures.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said more than 2,500 officers were on duty across the city, and some officers were authorised to carry high-grade weapons. The attack on 14 December targeted Australia's Jewish community and killed 15 people at a Hanukkah festival.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up by a white light to symbolise peace, and a Jewish menorah was projected on to the pylons of the bridge to show solidarity with the Jewish community. Official New Year's Eve parties were paused at 23:00 local time (12:00 GMT) for a minute's silence to commemorate the victims of the attack.
Pictures from Sydney Harbour showed officers patrolling the crowds with longarm weapons. In the lead up to the event, Premier Chris Minns had warned that some people may find the sight confronting but noted that safety was the priority.
We want people to be safe in our community, he added, reassuring the crowd that the increased police presence was a measure to bolster security.
Despite the tragedy, people across Sydney expressed a willingness to celebrate, as highlighted by some attendees who expressed their defiance against living in fear. The city's grand fireworks display not only marked the start of the New Year but echoed a collective call for harmony and resilience in the wake of violence.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said more than 2,500 officers were on duty across the city, and some officers were authorised to carry high-grade weapons. The attack on 14 December targeted Australia's Jewish community and killed 15 people at a Hanukkah festival.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up by a white light to symbolise peace, and a Jewish menorah was projected on to the pylons of the bridge to show solidarity with the Jewish community. Official New Year's Eve parties were paused at 23:00 local time (12:00 GMT) for a minute's silence to commemorate the victims of the attack.
Pictures from Sydney Harbour showed officers patrolling the crowds with longarm weapons. In the lead up to the event, Premier Chris Minns had warned that some people may find the sight confronting but noted that safety was the priority.
We want people to be safe in our community, he added, reassuring the crowd that the increased police presence was a measure to bolster security.
Despite the tragedy, people across Sydney expressed a willingness to celebrate, as highlighted by some attendees who expressed their defiance against living in fear. The city's grand fireworks display not only marked the start of the New Year but echoed a collective call for harmony and resilience in the wake of violence.
