DANIEL BACKHAUS
The Queensland Police Service has warned protest groups they will crack down hard on anyone causing disruption this weekend.
Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Barnett said police were out in number and ready to act.
“Should a protest become violent or disruptive the Queensland Police Service will take swift and immediate action,” he said.
He said protest groups who were communicating with the police had been taking a goodwill approach.
“There is no credible intelligence to suggest these protests will be violent,” Barnett said.
Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there was no indication that the Leaders’ Summit would be targeted.
“Certainly there hasn’t been any threats against the event in terms of terrorism or protest action that we know of at this stage,” she said.
Deputy Commissioner Barnett said security updates would be provided on G20 operations where available.
“The Queensland Police Service is now entering into a new phase of Operation Southern Cross and will continue to provide these updates, morning and night, until the event,” he said.
“Throughout our planning we have been very cognisant of the impacts on people of Brisbane,” Barnett said.
“Every effort has been made to counter these (impacts) wherever we can.”