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ADF officer withdraws claim he was assaulted by two men Apology as ADF officer withdraws claim he was assaulted by two men
(35 minutes later)
The Australian defence force officer who claimed to have been assaulted by two men in Sydney’s west while in full uniform has withdrawn his claim with police. The chief of the Australian defence force has apologised after a sailor withdrew claims that he had been attacked by two men of middle eastern appearance.
The 41-year-old man said he had been threatened and assaulted by two men in Bella Vista on Thursday morning while on his way to work. He said he had suffered minor bruising. On Thursday reports emerged that a 41-year-old sailor had spoken with New South Wales police about being attacked near his home in north-west Sydney.
“The two men were described as being of Middle Eastern appearance,” the police spokesman said on Thursday. A NSW police spokesman had said of the attack that: “The two men were described as being of Middle Eastern appearance.”
The alleged incident followed the shooting death of an 18-year-old terrorism suspect and double-stabbing of police officers in Melbourne. But the allegation was subsequently withdrawn by the sailor, leading to an apology from the chief of the defence force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
With community tensions running high, the claim also sparked the Australian defence force to warn its personnel about being careful when wearing their uniform in public. “I have been in contact with [police commissioner] Andrew Scipione throughout the evening and just spoken to him before I came down here now and that sailor has withdrawn those allegations,” he said on Friday morning.
New South Wales police say they will continue their investigations into the circumstances that led to the allegation being made. “What I would like to say, because this is breaking news, on behalf of the Australian defence force I would like to apologise to the Australian community and particularly the Middle Eastern community for any angst that this has caused.”
The defence force chief, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, apologised for the incident. “On behalf of the Australian Defence Force I would like to apologise to the Australian community and in particular the Middle Eastern community for any angst this has caused,” he told reporters in Canberra. NSW police also issued a statement following the withdrawal of the allegations.
The ADF will continue working with NSW police in investigating the sailor’s claim. “NSW police investigating a claim that an Australian defence force personnel member was assaulted on his way to work have announced the allegation of assault has now been withdrawn,” the statement said.
Binskin said media had over-hyped his guidance to defence personnel about wearing their uniforms in public. “They know through common sense where they should wear uniform and where it might not be right to wear uniform,” he said. “NSW police will continue to examine the circumstances that led to the allegation being brought to their attention.”
The incident follows heightened community tensions in Australia following the largest ever counter-terrorism raids in NSW that saw one man charged with a terrorism offence. Following the raids an 18-year-old man in Melbourne was shot dead by police after he allegedly stabbed two officers.
The grand mufti of Australia has called for calm and unity in the community.