'An ugly reminder': Anti-terror bollards put up at sites of deadly sieges in Sydney and Melbourne
A number of giant concrete bollards have been placed at the site of the Lindt Cafe and Bourke Street siege in a new anti-terror measure.
Earlier this month, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed the 140 temporary concrete slabs would be used to stop unauthorised vehicles entering Federation Square and Bourke Street Mall, saying the "threat of terror is real".
In Sydney on Friday, workers were seen positioning similar bollards in Martin Place outside the Lindt Cafe - the site of a deadly siege where a gunman held 18 people hostage in December 2014.
After they were erected, social media users shared photos of the bollards in both cities, saying they were an "ugly reminder."
The concrete slabs in Melbourne were placed in a number of streets, including at the site of the Bourke Street siege where a car ploughed through crowds of people in January, killing 6.
WATCH: Police officers captured 'harassing' homeless man in Sydney
'Dadda! Hi!': Kids welcome Oliver Curtis to private plane after a year behind bars
On June 10, Mr Andrews said the Melbourne bollards would later be replaced with street furniture or planter boxes and other features that would be a "little bit less imposing," but the priority was safety.
"It's about doing everything we need to do to keep Victorians safe."
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said the bollards would help bolster security in the CBD but warned there were a "number of vulnerabilities" across the city.
"We understand what they look like and where they are and we will be working our way through them over the next six months to provide safety and safer places for our community," he said.
The erection of the bollards comes just one day before the end of Ramadan, where Muslims celebrate a festival to end fasting, known as Eid al-Fitr.
Terror experts have said the significance of Ramadan makes it a target for terror attacks, especially the "Night of Power," which was held on Wednesday night.
NSW Police confirmed to 7 News Online there was "no specific threat," but had been working with government bodies, owners and operators to boost security measures.
The City of Sydney made a similar statement, saying it was working with NSW Police to review public places of mass gathering to determine if additional bollards or barricades are required.
"As part of our ongoing work to review and strengthen security in public spaces, the City is currently installing concrete barricades in Martin Place, between Phillip and Elizabeth Streets. This is not in response to any specific threat," a statement said.
"Barricades or bollards will be rolled out to other stages in Martin Place over the coming weeks after further consultation with NSW Police and emergency services".
