It only takes a death threat on a screen to set the police in Australia to work, and that is what has happened in the run-up to the PM’s three-day stay in the city. The incident has put a finer point on security for the Melbourne Meets Modi get-together and for the bilateral discussions that will be part of the summit from July 8 to 10.
Threat heightens security ahead of Melbourne visit
You can find the post under an ad for the Marvel Stadium event on July 9. In it, the writer was blunt: “The roof tops of the stadium better close during the event or he will be coming to Australia for his death.”
Reports say the IP behind the comment has been put to the account of one Abu Mustafa. It is a case that has made venue and crowd control all the more of a priority for this kind of high-profile affair.
Online comment triggers probe
The Australian Federal Police are not putting out any word on whether anyone has been taken in. They have let the matter be while they look into it. What is certain is that the threat is being handled with some gravity, with several agencies in on the arrangements to keep the Prime Minister secure.
From here on, officials will be fine-tuning the protection for every public appearance. If the risk calls for it, you can expect more screening at the stadium and a bit more structure to how the visiting dignitaries move about.
What officials are doing now
There is not much time to put this together when the itinerary has both open events and head-of-state talks. So any call to alter a route or a schedule has to be a compromise between what the crowd is after and what is needed to neutralise a threat.
Some of the steps in the works are:
– A watchful eye on what is being said online
– Working in concert with other Australian bodies
– Having a plan B for the venue
It is a reminder of how a lone remark can snowball into a full-blown response. For those in attendance, there will be no shortage of visible security, even if the programme is left as is.
Diplomatic agenda remains on track
The investigation is not going to put a hold on why the PM is in town. He is due for some one-on-ones with the community and for the Melbourne Meets Modi function over the next few days.
Then there are the talks with Anthony Albanese as part of the summit in Melbourne. When he made the announcement, the Australian Prime Minister put it down to India being a vital partner, both strategically and in terms of the economy.
“As the world’s fourth largest and fastest growing economy, India is a critical economic partner for Australia. I am honoured to welcome my friend Prime Minister Modi to Australia for our Annual Leaders’ Summit,” he put it.
Why this matters now
This comes at a time when there is a desire to make headway on trade and ties of a more personal nature. Should something go awry with a big diaspora function, it would be noticed on both sides of the border, since the community is often the bridge where government is not.
The job for the authorities is to put people at ease without giving away too much. They have not had much to say, but the stance is evident: they are on to it and the precautions will be in proportion to the risk.
What comes next
They will be following the trail from the IP address and any other digital footprints. At the same time, the security staff will be running through some scenarios and making their way around the venue to be ready for the 9th.
Barring any new information, the plan is to go ahead with the visit, with a little more than usual in the way of security. The aim is to see the community and summit goals through to the end, safely.
