Loudspeakers in Sydney streets to warn against terror attacks

Australia’s largest city has installed dozens of loudspeakers to tell residents what to do in a terrorist attack, an official announced on Wednesday.

Australia’s largest city has installed dozens of loudspeakers to tell residents what to do in a terrorist attack, an official announced on Wednesday.

Around 40 speakers should be operational in time for next month’s meeting of 21 world leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, said New South Wales state Police Minister David Campbell. “If there were a terrorist event or a major building fire and there were people in the streets, this is a way of giving them information,” Campbell said.

A wailing siren would attract residents’ attention, followed by a police announcement directing people to evacuation points plotted around the downtown area.

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Meanwhile, a senior police chief involved in planning for September’s APEC summit said authorities could order office workers to remain inside their buildings if a bomb were to explode nearby.

Superintendent Greg Rolph acknowledged public fears about possible building collapses in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, but said staying inside offices was usually the safest option.

The move comes just weeks after Sydney’s city council urged locals to prepare survival bags — including maps, first-aid supplies, spare change and an extra set of keys —in case of emergency.