5 Army Helicopters dropped 20+ Armed soldiers on Roof SYDNEY

[ipv6ready]

No Joke! On Pitt Street. I just saw it not fifty meters away from the hotel I am staying in.

I am talking full gunships and Mission Impossble style drop!!!!

Bugger AND NO CAMERA!!!!!!!!

[sheepie]

Was on the radio earlier this week that they're doing exercises this week.

You should take your camera everywhere

[ipv6ready]

Glad to hear!!!

Chrikey it was full on!!!!! in about 5 minutes 4 gunships cameover and the soldiers jumped off.

It was like watching a movie. BUGGER BUGGER no camera.

I was on the 41st floor and this happened on a building next to where I was which was about 35 floors high so I was eye balling these guys at about 50 meters!

[rokkstar]

Damm, what a missed opportunity.

I heard all of them today at work, and another not 30 mins ago. That explains it!

[sirhc55]

You’re probably very lucky - if the light had reflected off your lens you might have ended up with a few bullets flying your way

[Nnnnsic]

I heard and saw them while I was walking through the city today with a mate.

I said to him that it sounded like a military exercise.

[Geoff]

I thought it was Thaddeus doing some tricky manouvres

[ipv6ready]

I bet the pics will turn up as the I could see flashes going off all over the builidng I am in (we have a verandah) and from the building in front.

they came in two lots first 5 then 3, 30minutes apart.

It was amazing. They hovered over roof, threw ropes down the side and the guys just slide down with full amry/cammo gear.

I am staying on the 41st floor and no joke the helicopter was just hovering 30meters away before moving onto the roof across the road.

[Laurie]

i get excited when i see more than 1 cop car.
i would of been real excited at seeing this.

[Killakoala]

Those guys don't like having their photos taken

[Nnnnsic]

Those guys don't like having their photos taken

That's ok. The pancake makes my camera look like a point and shoot. I'm just another tourist blending in with the crowd...

[ipv6ready]

I never thought I will say this but I would of being happy with a phone camera

[Kyle]

I really wanted to get into the city sometime this week and chase them round with a borrowed 70-200vr... bit alas, could not get time off work..

[robster]

Sounds like a public show from the gov't. They must be about to raise our 'terrorism levy' that we pay on our insurance or something like that?

I smell a scam in the air


Rob

[Raskill]

Sounds like a public show from the gov't. They must be about to raise our 'terrorism levy' that we pay on our insurance or something like that?

I smell a scam in the air


Rob

I'd rather they trained at my expense than tried to rescue me at my expense....

[robster]

I'd rather they trained at my expense than tried to rescue me at my expense....

I agree, but it seems a bit... public. Middle of Pitt St.. I'm sure there's a tonne of other locations that would have suited. It's a publicity stunt at our expense in my opinion.



rob

[Raskill]

I know what your saying, but training needs to be as realistic as possible. If you are training for roof top insertions to rescue hostages in the Sydney CBD, then I think that the best place to train is roof tops in the CBD. That way the pilots get to know the area and the troops get used to rappeling in such a distracting environment.

But why would they be training? Think about APEC in Sept. 2007 (and the countless mini summits through-out the year). The leaders from most Asia Pacific nations will be in Sydney as well as 7000+ media from around the world. Now theres a target !

From my perspective this summit that lasts two weeks will require an average of 6000+ EXTRA shifts of Police on duty per day in the Sydney area, so for the two weeks thats about 84000 shifts, which is a far bigger response than even the Olympics in 2000. I think you will see lots of Police/Military training in the CBD in the next 12 months, on buildings, ferries, trains, airports etc etc.

[marcotrov]

Steve said:

Those guys don't like having their photos taken

Or a bad one in any case
Imagine them taking exception. I don't know how gunship artillery staring at you would feel but i'm guessing pretty scary
As to always keeping your camera with you I must agree I've tried to start doing that
cheers
marco

[zafra52]

I agree with sirhc55 you were very lucky, especially if you have a Mediterranean look and a beard. Don't you watch the Chaser War on Everything?
I shaved my one off after a friend joking said I only needed a turban to be stopped at an airport.
You now how paranoid a society we are becoming!

[marcotrov]

Unfortunately it's getting a lot like the ol' Mcarthy era of a 'communist threat under every bed'
cheers
marco

[zafra52]

I couln'd agree more. A few lunatics have to spoil it for everyone.