Attack sparks terror alarms

AFL clubs have been warned of heightened security at this week’s opening round of the home-and-away season in the wake of last Friday’s terrorist attack in Christchurch.

The AFL sent a memo to each of the 18 clubs, directing them to a strict adherence of security protocols at the eight venues around Australia this week, starting with tonight’s Richmond-Carlton clash.

While the memo reinforces the measures in place are “precautionary”, which the AFL has stressed to its clubs, it details how the national terror threat remains at “probable”, which it has been since 2014.

The AFL has been working closely with its venue partners and experts in the field to ensure the security measures are “commensurate with the threat level and any increase to security presence is precautionary”.

The directive to the clubs indicates there will likely be an increased number of security guard numbers (some with body-worn cameras), increased police presence, and increased search and screening processes on entering venues.

The latter will mean some delays in fans getting into the venues, but the AFL and its security operators have stressed the importance of this process for security reasons.

The AFL memo also asks the clubs to review their own security measures, including tightened accreditation processes at matches, a request to ensure dressing-room access is “robust” and that door staff are fully briefed, and that any suspicious behaviour should be reported immediately.

More than 375,000 fans attended the opening round of last year’s AFL season and there is an expectation that figure could be surpassed.