Elite officer hurt guarding Pope (ABC)

An elite New South Wales policeman is believed to have injured himself with a stun-related device outside the Catholic Church complex where the Pope is staying in north-west Sydney. After his arrival in Sydney yesterday afternoon, Pope Benedict was taken to a Catholic study centre at Kenthurst, where 300 people had gathered to get a glimpse of him. About 9:20pm (AEST), a police officer from the Tactical Operations Unit protecting the Pope was injured during a patrol by a piece of his own equipment, believed to be a stun-related device. He was taken to Westmead Hospital, where he has been treated for a laceration and a fractured finger. It is unclear how close the officer was to the Pope at the time of the incident but organisers say there was no threat to the pontiff at any time. Police say an investigation is underway. World... [read full story]