Most important points
- Australia has raised its terror threat level.
- Anthony Albanese says more and more Australians are embracing a wider range of extreme ideologies.
- ASIO is concerned about the possibility of small groups or individuals carrying out attacks using “rudimentary weapons”.
The terror threat level in Australia has been raised from ‘possible’ to ‘probable’. Eight incidents have been investigated in Australia since April.
The threat level was lowered in 2022, but a rise in extremism across the political and ideological spectrum led to the increase, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday.
“I want to reassure Australians: probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean this is information about an imminent danger,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
“But the advice we’ve been given is that more and more Australians are embracing a wider range of extreme ideologies and it’s our responsibility to be vigilant.”
All eight disorders examined over the past four months involved males aged 14 to 21 years.
Authorities note that young Australians are particularly vulnerable.
ASIO raises concerns about politically motivated violence
Mike Burgess, ASIO’s director-general, said during the announcement that politically motivated violence, along with espionage and foreign interference, is now his agency’s biggest security concern.
“We are seeing a rise in extremism, more Australians are becoming radicalised and they are becoming radicalised faster,” he said.
“More and more Australians are prepared to use violence to further their cause.
“These include violent protests, riots and attacks on politicians or democratic institutions.”
Burgess said that while political differences and debates are an essential part of a healthy democracy, “provocative, inflammatory behaviour is being normalised” and “trust in institutions is eroding”.
He said that “this trend intensified during COVID-19 and gained momentum after the terrorist attacks on Israel. It also accelerated during Israel’s military response.”
“The dynamics cause the temperature in the safety environment to rise.”
War in Gaza not cause of increased threat
Burgess said the decision had nothing to do with the .
“At this point, we do not believe that the terrorist plans we have been investigating over the past year originated from Gaza,” he said.
“Terrorist leaders at sea do not inspire attacks on land. That is why we did not raise the threat level in the immediate aftermath of October 7.”
But he said: “… the conflict has fuelled discontent, inflamed protests, deepened divisions, undermined social cohesion and increased intolerance.”
Threat of attacks
Burgess said he could not provide details of the eight “attacks or disruptions that were the result of suspected terrorism or were being investigated as possible acts of terrorism” in Australia in the past four months.
However, he said the most likely terrorist acts would be the type of attacks where an individual or small group uses “simple weapons such as knives, improvised explosive devices or a gun”.
“People resort to violence without any warning and without any planning,” he said.
“Acts of violence can be almost spontaneous and purely reactive.”
Burgess said there has been an “upsurge in the number of minors embracing violent extremism.”
“Extremist ideologies and conspiracy misinformation thrive in the online ecosystem and young Australians are particularly vulnerable to this.”
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