ADELAIDE: Police armed with rifles will form part of a strengthened security presence at the third Ashes Test between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval, following the deadly Bondi Beach shooting, officials said. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and a moment of silence will be observed before the match.
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South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed extra precautions would be in place for the Test, which begins Wednesday, despite no intelligence indicating an elevated threat. “This is done only as a precautionary measure, but it is appropriate that we are in an increasing sense of alertness just at the moment,” he said.
Tomorrow’s Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval will be the first large-scale public gathering since the atrocity in Bondi. Amid unprecedented security, players are set to pay tribute to the victims before a ball is bowled. https://t.co/YkgysZALFg @HannahFoord7 pic.twitter.com/389tEptHmj
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 16, 2025
The Bondi Beach attack on Sunday, carried out by a father and son during a Jewish celebration, left 15 people dead and dozens injured. One assailant was killed, while the other remains in critical condition in hospital.
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said specially trained officers armed with rifles would be present in and around the Adelaide Oval. “There’s a balance between the concern about police officers carrying rifles and the need to effectively respond to an event, should one occur,” he said.
Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board released a joint statement expressing horror over the attack and offered condolences to victims, their families, and the Jewish community. Players from both teams will wear black armbands in tribute, and Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg highlighted the sport’s role in uniting people to honour and support those affected.
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Officials emphasised that these measures are precautionary, reflecting a heightened state of vigilance in the wake of the tragedy, rather than a response to any confirmed security threat.