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Sydney Opera House evacuated and Manly ferry cancelled during police operation Sydney Opera House evacuated and Manly ferry cancelled during police operation
(35 minutes later)
Police operations at Circular Quay and Manly, during which the Sydney Opera House was evacuated just after lunchtime on Thursday, have been completed and the precinct has been reopened. The Sydney Opera House precinct reopened to the public Thursday afternoon after a police operation caused staff and tourists to be evacuated from the landmark.
NSW police said the operation, which led to the cancellation of a ferry and the clearing of the Opera House forecourt, was a “precautionary measure”. Police simultaneously conducted an operation across the harbour in Manly as a “precautionary measure” following information on social media.
“Following information on social media, police conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Opera House and Manly as a precautionary measure,” police said.“Following information on social media, police conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Opera House and Manly as a precautionary measure,” police said.
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE UPDATE: The police operation has now concluded, with NSW Police confirming the response was a 'precautionary measure' It is understood the operation, which began just after lunchtime and was over by mid-afternoon, was not related to terrorism.
It is understood the operation, which was over by mid-afternoon, was not related to terrorism. The forecourt of the Sydney Opera House was evacuated about 2pm with police erecting metal barriers. Employees at the Opera House and Opera Bar calmly left the building.
The forecourt of the Opera House was evacuated about 2pm with police erecting metal barriers. An Opera House tour guide said she had been leading tourists around the building when police arrived.
A Sydney Opera House tour guide said she had been leading tourists around the building when police arrived.
“My tour was stopped mid-tour ... now I can’t get back in,” she said.“My tour was stopped mid-tour ... now I can’t get back in,” she said.
The operation caused the cancellation of the 1.20pm ferry from Manly to Circular Quay and the 1.40pm ferry to be delayed. Tourists milled around the area and took selfies despite security guards and police officers asking them to move on.
The bar below the Opera House was closed and tourists were milling around Circular Quay.
UPDATE: The Opera House has been evacuated due to a police operation. #9News pic.twitter.com/g2ZGTL5YJUUPDATE: The Opera House has been evacuated due to a police operation. #9News pic.twitter.com/g2ZGTL5YJU
The Opera House’s Bennelong restaurant said it was taking bookings for Thursday night, with a receptionist saying: “It’s business as usual.” The operation also caused the cancellation of the 1.20pm ferry from Manly to Circular Quay and the 1.40pm ferry to be delayed.
The Opera House’s Bennelong restaurant was still taking bookings for Thursday night and performances at the Sydney Opera House were set to proceed as planned.