Business as usual at schools

SECURITY operations are back to normal at Sydney’s Jewish schools, after a letter sent to NSW Police containing threats of violence to Jewish schools and NSW police stations led to a precautionary increase in security on Tuesday.

The letter, which arrived at Merrylands Police Station in Sydney’s west, claimed that “thousands will die” and threatened violence against non-Muslims – particularly Jewish schools and NSW police stations.

It was reportedly accompanied by a photo of an Islamic State extremist with a row of severed heads in front of him.

Shortly after it came to light, security was boosted at schools and a letter was sent to parents.

“We have been advised that this unconfirmed threat is general in nature and isn’t cause for any changed security arrangements. Our school is operating as normal,” the letter said.

“We have been in contact with NSW Police and CSG and continue to take their advice in relation to this, and, as a precautionary measure, we have increased security with CSG presence at our school. We will continue to receive advice from authorities and CSG in relation to this.”

Speaking to The AJN on Wednesday, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) CEO Vic Alhadeff confirmed that the level of security at the schools had returned to day-to-day operations following Tuesday’s precautions.

“The community was advised that the unconfirmed threat was general in nature and was not a cause for any changed security arrangements,” Alhadeff said.

“Our schools continued to operate as normal. As a precautionary measure, the CSG increased its presence at schools on Tuesday, and have now returned to normal.”

A NSW Police spokesperson said the matter is being investigated, as are any pieces of threatening information delivered in hard copy or posted on social media forums.

PHOEBE ROTH

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