A noisy flyover of Australia's capital by air force jets on the eve of the Bali bombing anniversary was ill-considered and insensitive, the local government chief said Monday.The flyover by Canberra by F-111 bombers was part of centenary celebrations for Australia's highest court. The display late on Saturday ended with the two jets lighting their afterburners in a fiery and noisy display.
Many residents mistook it for a new terrorist attack.
Jon Stanhope, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory, said it had marred the centenary celebrations for the establishment of the High Court by needlessly causing "widespread fear and alarm".
"Given the proximity of the event to the anniversary of the Bali bombing, and generally heightened awareness of the risks of terrorism, the nature of the event was ill-considered and insensitive," he said.
"It was also badly planned and communicated, with very few people being aware in advance that a flyover was scheduled."
Stanhope said he would write to Attorney General Philip Ruddock and Defence Minister Robert Hill to complain.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2003 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.
Quick Links
SpaceWar
Search SpaceWar
Subscribe To SpaceWar Express
