Pranks prompt bridge safety review
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Frenchman Alain Robert, pictured, scaled the bridge last month.
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SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Authorities have ordered an urgent investigation into security at Sydney Harbor Bridge after two men climbed to the top of its landmark arch in the last two weeks.
The bridge is one of Sydney's -- and the world's -- most famous structures and is considered a prime terror target but it is currently guarded only by a handful of private guards working for the city's traffic authority.
The latest climber was a 26-year-old Sydney man caught by police in the early hours of Monday after clambering up the bridge and stealing an Australian flag flying from its summit. The offense carries a small fine.
His actions followed those of Frenchman Alain Robert, who calls himself Spiderman because of previous climbs up famous landmarks like the Empire State Building and Eiffel Tower. Robert was fined $250 (Aust. $350) for his November 21 stunt.
New South Wales state Police Minister John Watkins said the latest climber was spotted before reaching the top of the bridge and arrested after he climbed down again. The stunt reportedly was done as a dare.
"An assessment was made that this was someone who was a prank climber, intoxicated and, accordingly, police ... waited for the person to come down," Watkins told Sydney radio station 2GB.
"If there had been any suggestion of terrorism our counterterrorism resources and plans would have swung into action," he added.
Sydney Harbor Bridge security was upgraded a year ago because of the growing threat of terrorist attack.
It is now patrolled 24 hours a day but that level of protection now looks likely to be boosted following the two climbers exposing how easy it is to clamber up the steel arch.
