They will be accompanied by bomb-detection dogs. 9News
The extra 135 officers will be armed with MK18 short-barrelled rifles and trained to assess hostile threats and behaviour.Anti-terror police armed with assault rifles will be patrolling Brisbane and Canberra airports this Christmas, before being rolled out in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in the next few months.
They will be accompanied by specialised firearm and explosive detection canines, who will be on the alert for bomb threats. "These highly trained officers run towards dangerous incidents, not away from them," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today. "It is vital they have every resource necessary to help them do their job and protect the community."
Faced with some backlash on social media over the move, the AFP said the decision was "based on longstanding ASIO threat assessment advice".
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