NSW Police operation: Sydney Opera House evacuated, Manly ferry cancelled

The iconic Sydney Opera House was evacuated after the NSW police apparently received security threat. People were cleared from the area and Manly ferry schedules were cancelled due to the police operation on Thursday afternoon.

Police have confirmed the operation at Manly and the Opera House but did not explain the need for such, just calling it a “precautionary measure” following information received on social media.

The operation, which saw the police cordoning off the area, was concluded after more than an hour. A ferry scheduled after lunch from Manly to Circular Quay was cancelled as well. Performances and tours at the Opera House were postponed until further notice.

Reports claimed it was not related to terrorism, although an online user on Reddit, who claimed to be an employee at the Opera House, said the operation was due to the “security threat” received by the police. Employees who were about to end their shift were advised to remain in the building during the operation. Those who wish to leave the site were also free to do so.

“My shift is about to end, there are heaps of cops out on the forecourt but there is no incoming information about what exactly the ‘security threat’ was/is,” user throwitaway8956 wrote on the site before including the internal email sent to employees regarding the situation.

Updates to come…