![]() Police seize more riot weapons 12dec05 CRICKET bats, rocks and lengths of steel have been confiscated by police amid threats of further race violence in Sydney's east. About 30 police seized the potential weapons from a park area in Maroubra, the scene of retaliation attacks that followed a day of violence in the southern Sydney beach area of Cronulla yesterday. A crowd of up to 100 people had gathered near Maroubra beach earlier today but had largely dispersed by nightfall. Superintendent Phil Rogerson from Maroubra police said so far it had been "very quiet". "But we're prepared," he told AAP. "We took possession of a number of cricket bats, rocks and bits of steel secreted around the park since about 3pm this afternoon." He also said police would be taking possession of a stockpile of bricks left near a shop. Supt Rogerson said there were "sufficient" police patrolling the streets opposite Maroubra beach and more in Broadarrow Reserve and adjoining parks if needed. He said police also were worried about violence flaring up in Coogee and Bondi, and were keeping a close eye on the situation. At Lakemba in Sydney's south-west, a crowd of about 500 mostly Muslim men gathered outside the Lakemba Mosque after rumours of an attack on the building. One man said the crowd had gathered as a show of force. Police blocked off the street 200 metres either side of the building and a police helicopter hovered overhead. There were reports a camera crew had been set upon while covering the gathering outside the mosque but police said no one was injured in the incident. The crowd began to disperse without incident about 9.30pm. Police said as the crowd left the mosque, rocks were thrown at officers standing nearby on the corner of Lakemba Street and Wangee Road. No one was reported to be injured in the incident and more police rushed to the scene.
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