Terror-alert speakers placed in Melbourne

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia

Dozens of loudspeakers and security cameras have been installed around Melbourne's city center as part of a new emergency warning system against terrorist acts.

The Victoria government of southeastern Australia announced Monday that it strengthened security measures against possible terrorist activities.

As part of the measures, 65 sets of speakers and 31 security cameras were installed at touristic city sites, including Federation Square and Flinders Street.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said announcements will be read out to help direct people in the event of an emergency; to inform people to move to a particular area or shelter in a nearby building.

Neville said a test message would be transmitted on Dec. 28 to raise awareness in the city.

In June, some streets of the city center were surrounded by concrete blocks in front of shopping malls and squares in the wake of an increase in terrorist attacks by cars across the world.

Australia experienced a major terror attack in Sydney in 2014 in which two hostages were killed during a siege. Government officials said several others were foiled since then.