My friend’s husband had to go away for work yesterday. He didn’t tell her where he was going. He didn’t tell her when he would be back. He never does.
Three days before Christmas, my friend was mentally adjusting her plans for this weekend if she and her two kids had to do it without Dad.
“But, surely, he’ll be home for Christmas Day?” I’m asking, over wine and spaghetti at dinner last night.
“I don’t know. No idea.” She isn’t angry about it. She isn’t surprised.
My friend’s husband is in the Federal Police. Today, seven men were arrested in Melbourne, suspected of planning a significant terrorist attack in Melbourne‘s city centre this weekend.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton stood before a press conference today and told the media that these men had planned to use explosives and knives cause chaos and carnage “on or around Christmas Day”.
It’s alleged these men were planning to kill and injure men and women and children who had gathered in the city. Think about that. On Christmas Eve, there’s a family concert at Federation Square. There’s midnight mass at St Paul’s Cathederal. There are tourists milling, families travelling to be together, friends meeting on the steps of Flinders Street station. There’s Carols By Candlelight.
