A group of five men, who sparked a security scare when they were found on walking trails near ANSTO at Lucas Heights yesterday afternoon, were allowed to leave after being questioned by police.
NSW Police said they received calls about 5pm about two cars parked in New Illawarra Road, 150 metres from the front gate of the Commonwealth research reactor and medical facility.
Some reports said the men were praying.
NSW Police and Australian Federal Police officers said they "conducted inquiries with a number of persons.
"Following those inquiries, all occupants of the vehicles were allowed to leave."
ANSTO said today it would continue to review its security arrangements.
An ANSTO spokesman said the facility operated as one of the safest sites in Australia.
‘‘Our security arrangements are second to none,’’ he said.
‘‘They are intelligence-led, well practised and are scalable upwards at short notice.
‘‘In consultation with security agencies, we constantly review security arrangements to make sure they are appropriate.
‘‘We did it yesterday, we did it today and we will do it tomorrow.”
The spokesman said the surrounding bushland, used by bushwalkers and cyclists, was monitored and patrolled by federal police.
‘‘ANSTO’s security arrangements are intelligence-led and if there was a change to existing access arrangements, this would be done on advice from security agencies,’’ he said.
The bush land near New Illawarra Road and around ANSTO is marked as Commonwealth property but members of the public have often used it for walking and sometimes illegal trail bike riding. http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1161007/illegal-riders-still-defy-police/
The incident comes a week after more than 800 police officers searched homes in Sydney and Brisbane in the largest counter-terrorism raids in Australian history.
Police allege the group targeted in the raids had begun to carry out planning to commit violent acts in Australia.
Sixteen people were detained and one remains there.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned the nation yesterday from Parliament that it would have to sacrifice freedoms for security against terrorism in what he called these "darkening times", referring to the raised Terror Alert for Australia from September 12, amid concerns over the number of Australians working with or inspired by overseas terrorist groups.
Mr Abbott, who will fly to New York on Tuesday for the United Nations summit made a special address to Parliament on national security and warned the "delicate balance" between freedom and security would have to be recast.
"Regrettably, for some time to come, Australians will have to endure more security than we're used to, and more inconvenience than we'd like," he said.
"The delicate balance between freedom and security may have to shift. There may be more restrictions on some so that there can be more protections for others. After all, the most basic freedom of all is the freedom to walk the streets unharmed and to sleep safe in our beds at night."
Do you think the balance between freedom and security should shift in the current political and security climate?
