THE TEAM from hit ABC television show The Chaser's War on Everything have been charged after driving a convoy through APEC's $250 million security blockade.
The comics from ABC's satirical The Chaser's War on Everything left authorities red-faced yesterday after the security breach only metres from the Sydney hotel where US President George W. Bush is staying.
Eleven people were charged, including stars Chas Licciardello, who sat in the back of one of the cars dressed as Osama bin Laden, and Julian Morrow, who posed as a security guard running alongside.
The 10 men and one woman were last night charged under new APEC laws on entering a restricted area without justification.
Police are furious about the prank.
"I don't see a funny side to what's happened today. I don't see a funny side at all," NSW Police Minister David Campbell said.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said the Chaser team had "crossed the line".
Police apparently waved the comedy team through a roadblock into Sydney's restricted APEC zone.
A source inside The Chaser's War on Everything revealed the team had never expected to get so far.
The skit had been approved by ABC lawyers, but it had been assumed they would be stopped at the first checkpoint, hundreds of metres from the President's hotel.
Instead, they were waved through the first checkpoint, then a second that had sniffer dogs. They eventually stopped in sight of the hotel.
The ABC later released a statement saying the team had no intention of entering a restricted zone and had been wearing mock "insecurity passes" that stated the convoy was a joke.
"It was a piece testing APEC security and the motorcade looked pretty authentic," the Chaser source said.
"They approached the green zone, and they just waved them through – much to their amazement, because the sketch was meant to stop there with them being rejected.
"They were then waved through into the red zone, but rather than go all the way through they made the call to turn around."
"Apparently that was the first time the police realised it was not authentic and they swooped in and arrested everybody."
Eight members of the comedy team, including the film crew, were arrested, as well as three hire car drivers.
The fake motorcade – three cars and a motorcycle escort – had Canadian identification.
"We just thought Canada would be a country the cops wouldn't scrutinise too closely," said Chaser performer Chris Taylor.
The police APEC security boss, Assistant Commissioner Dave Owens, failed to see the funny side.
"I'm not embarrassed at all. I'm very angry," Mr Owens said.
"I enjoy a big laugh, but that isn't funny. They're putting themselves in a position where security is extremely tight.
"They are running the risk of a very serious and swift response."
Mr Owens and Mr Campbell claimed the "multi-layered security" at APEC had worked.
Head of the APEC investigation squad, Det. Supt Ken McKay, said The Chaser team was not entitled to any preferential treatment.
"While it appears it was a prank, the current APEC security environment isn't the place to do it in," he said. "Who they are is irrelevant."
All 11 were granted bail to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on October 4.
The comedy delivered the ABC one of its best ratings nights of the year on Wednesday, winning its timeslot.
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