SIMPLE household products and a little know-how could cause a devastating terror attack, Tasmanian business and industry have been warned. In move designed to alert and prepare public space managers, a counter-terrorism briefing was held yesterday at the Tasmania Police Academy. Police Commissioner Darren Hine told operators of venues like Aurora Stadium that the threat of terrorism in Tasmania had never been higher and a lone wolf assailant would be the most likely culprit. However, he reiterated there was no specific terror threat to the state. The briefing included guidelines to deal with ‘‘active shooters’’ such as a Sydney-siege style scenario and how regular consumer goods can be a recipe for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). About 70 venue and event managers were shown the deadly effects of IEDs in a field demonstration by Tasmania Police’s bomb technicians. Yesterday’s biggest explosion involved one of the most common household items, police said. ‘‘With the largest explosive – as we call it the toilet roll bomb – if you’re too close to that, that will kill you,’’ Inspector Jon Cooper of the Bomb Response Group said. ‘‘Some of these things that can be purchased over the counter of any store can be turned into a homemade explosive with a bit of knowledge.’’ University of Tasmania’s campus director Matt Smith said the briefing had brought the message home. ‘‘Everyday ingredients from the supermarket can be used to disrupt normal operations so we have to be aware of that,’’ he said ‘‘We have a lot of people congregated in various areas across all our campuses so it will help us plan and prepare.’’ Representatives from the Launceston City Council and Cricket Tasmania also attended the seminar.
Tasmania Police bomb squad members demonstrated some of their equipment and tools during a counter terrorism briefing.
Picture: MARK JESSER
SIMPLE household products and a little know-how could cause a devastating terror attack, Tasmanian business and industry have been warned.
In move designed to alert and prepare public space managers, a counter-terrorism briefing was held yesterday at the Tasmania Police Academy.
Police Commissioner Darren Hine told operators of venues like Aurora Stadium that the threat of terrorism in Tasmania had never been higher and a lone wolf assailant would be the most likely culprit.
However, he reiterated there was no specific terror threat to the state.
The briefing included guidelines to deal with ‘‘active shooters’’ such as a Sydney-siege style scenario and how regular consumer goods can be a recipe for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
About 70 venue and event managers were shown the deadly effects of IEDs in a field demonstration by Tasmania Police’s bomb technicians.
Yesterday’s biggest explosion involved one of the most common household items, police said.
‘‘With the largest explosive – as we call it the toilet roll bomb – if you’re too close to that, that will kill you,’’ Inspector Jon Cooper of the Bomb Response Group said.
‘‘Some of these things that can be purchased over the counter of any store can be turned into a homemade explosive with a bit of knowledge.’’
University of Tasmania’s campus director Matt Smith said the briefing had brought the message home.
‘‘Everyday ingredients from the supermarket can be used to disrupt normal operations so we have to be aware of that,’’ he said
‘‘We have a lot of people congregated in various areas across all our campuses so it will help us plan and prepare.’’
Representatives from the Launceston City Council and Cricket Tasmania also attended the seminar.
