Police left with egg on their faces
MEMBERS of an Australian television comedy show, one dressed as Osama bin Laden, drove through two security checkpoints yesterday before being stopped near the Sydney hotel where the president of the United States is staying.
The stunt embarrassed Sydney police, who have imposed the tightest security measures in city history for the APEC summit of leaders from Pacific Rim countries, including George Bush.
The stunt embarrassed Sydney police, who have imposed the tightest security measures in city history for the APEC summit of leaders from Pacific Rim countries, including George Bush.
Police arrested 11 cast and crew from the TV programme The Chaser's War on Everything and impounded three vehicles.
Cast members put together a sham motorcade, hiring two motorcycles and three cars on which they put Canadian flags. Police waved the motorcade through two checkpoints before pulling it over near the hotel.
Chas Licciardello got out of the car dressed in a white tunic and cap and wearing a fake Osama bin Laden-style beard.
"No particular reason we chose Canada," said Chris Taylor, another cast member. "We just thought they'd be a country who the cops wouldn't scrutinise too closely and who, feasibly, would only have three cars in their motorcade - as opposed to the 20 or so gas-guzzlers Bush has brought with him."
All 11 were charged - under laws passed a month ago - with entering a restricted APEC area, police said. They were released on bail and must appear in court next month. Each faces a potential six-month jail sentence.
Cast members put together a sham motorcade, hiring two motorcycles and three cars on which they put Canadian flags. Police waved the motorcade through two checkpoints before pulling it over near the hotel.
Chas Licciardello got out of the car dressed in a white tunic and cap and wearing a fake Osama bin Laden-style beard.
"No particular reason we chose Canada," said Chris Taylor, another cast member. "We just thought they'd be a country who the cops wouldn't scrutinise too closely and who, feasibly, would only have three cars in their motorcade - as opposed to the 20 or so gas-guzzlers Bush has brought with him."
All 11 were charged - under laws passed a month ago - with entering a restricted APEC area, police said. They were released on bail and must appear in court next month. Each faces a potential six-month jail sentence.
Bagelblogger: One might think the police overreaction after the comedy team's sketch was discovered might be poor compensation for the major lapse in security.
References:
News Org: 'Bin Laden' beats tight security to get near bush hotel
Always Fresh: Aussie Bagel
: Osama bin Laden Prank * The Chaser's War on Everything * Sham motorcade uses Canadian flags * Chas Licciardello * Chris Taylor * Australian television comedy show * APEC summit * Aussie Bagel * AussieBagel* Austalia and Jewish* Jewish * Mr Bagel * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger * Jew
: Osama bin Laden Prank * The Chaser's War on Everything * Sham motorcade uses Canadian flags * Chas Licciardello * Chris Taylor * Australian television comedy show * APEC summit * Aussie Bagel * AussieBagel* Austalia and Jewish* Jewish * Mr Bagel * BagelBlogger * Bagel Blogger * Jew
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