Australian boy causes uproar over toy gun in Martin Place
Xinhua, June 11, 2015 Adjust font size:
A photo of a child carrying a toy gun along Martin Place in Sydney has sparked public outrage and prompted local government to consider legislation to regulate the sale of replica guns.
News Corp published a photo of the boy on Thursday carrying a replica AK-47 assault rifle -- missing marks identifying it as a toy -- with his finger on the trigger.
The boy is pictured beside a man and toddler in a pram, just meters away from the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place where Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson died in the Sydney Siege in December 2014.
Police Association of New South Wales (NSW) president Scott Weber said police are concerned about the image.
"In this heightened terrorism environment, if someone sees what looks to be a real firearm, regardless of the age of the person carrying it, they're going to have genuine concerns," Weber said.
Australian reaction on social media of the event has been significant.
"What was going through the head of that parent allowing their young son to walk through Martin Place holding a toy gun?" one person tweeted.
The incident has prompted the NSW government to review replica gun legislation. Endi