Eleven members of an Australian TV comedy show were arrested within a stone's throw of President George W. Bush's hotel after they drove a fake Canadian motorcade through two security checkpoints in Sydney during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. They were arrested on September 6, 2007, inside the top-security "Red Zone" after one comedian emerged from the back of a limo, dressed as Osama Bin Laden.
The comedians breezed past some 3,500 police officers, reinforced by 1,500 soldiers –- fortified with tanks, water cannons, and explosives-detecting dogs –- who were guarding APEC leaders. They were arrested in a block adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel of where President Bush is staying.
Gemma Daily of Bloomberg reports:
The motorcade of three cars and two motorbikes, marked with "Canada" signs in the windscreens and decorated with Canadian flags, were waved through security into Sydney's "Red Zone," where 2.8 meter steel fences have been installed to prevent protesters from entering.
The comedians' satirical television program, "The Chaser's War on Everything," is broadcast on the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Chas Licciardello, who features in the program, got out of one of the cars near the Hotel InterContinental, where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying during the summit, dressed as bin Laden.
"They were arrested, so that shows the security system works,'' avowed Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. He also told reporters in Sydney, "Whatever you think of the humour of "The Chaser," ... they were clearly not going to harm anybody in a physical way."
"They presumably were, as is the nature of their show, aiming to humiliate a lot of well-known people."
But New South Wales Police Minister David Campbell claims he was not embarrassed by the stunt.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports:
NSW Police Minister David Campbell denied he was embarrassed by the comedians' ability to penetrate APEC's restricted zone -- rather, he was pleased the "multi-layered'' security had worked. He said the prank was inappropriate and he "did not see the funny side at all''.
The Chaser's production team had been specifically warned by police to behave responsibly during the APEC security lockdown, he said.
"[The police] said: 'We understand that parody and satire are entertaining and fun, many people watch the program and enjoy it, but please understand the seriousness of this matter and please take caution as you go about making your program.'
"That seems to have been thrown out the window and that, I think, is inappropriate."
"Chaser" team member Chris Taylor told the Sydney Morning Herald that the point of the prank motorcade –- which included two black SUVs imported from the US, plus another rental car and two hired motorcycles -- was to penetrate the security zone, and that posing as Canadians seemed like an effective way to do that.
"No particular reason we chose Canada," said Taylor. "We just thought they'd be a country who the cops wouldn't scrutinize too closely, and who feasibly would only have three cars in their motorcade -- as opposed to the 20 or so gas guzzlers that Bush has brought with him."
The eleven members of The Chaser have been charged under the APEC Meeting (Police Powers) Act 2007, and have been granted bail. They are slated to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on October 4, 2007.
Footage of the prank is airing on CNN, showing Licciardello emerging from a black limo, clad in a white tunic and cap and sporting a long fake Osama bin Laden-style beard. CNN reports that police in Sydney are "retooling security" as a result of the security breach "within 10 meters of where President Bush is staying."