Authorities have raised Australia’s terror threat level for the first time since 2014, citing a number of factors in the lead-up to the decision.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the nation’s terror threat has been raised from “possible” to “probable.”
The announcement was made on Aug. 5, alongside Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general Mike Burgess and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
It is understood there have been eight incidents in Australia investigated by security officials for alleged terrorism or possible terrorist links.
Conflict in the Middle East is said to have added to concerns, but is not said to be the direct cause of the rising alert level.
The last Australia’s terror threat was raised to “probable” occurred during the emergence of Islamic State in 2014.
Albanese said the national security committee met on Monday morning to discuss the change.
“Probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean there is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger but the advice that we’ve received is that more Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies,” he said in Canberra.
“Governments around the world are concerned about youth radicalisation, online radicalisation and the rise of new mixed ideologies.”
The leader’s announcement comes following two serious stabbing attacks in Australia, including the Bondi Junction Stabbings in April, when 40-year-old Joel Cauchi killed six people at a the Westfield Bondi Junction plaza in New South Wales (NSW).
While the incident was not listed as a terror attack due to the lack of being tied to a specific ideology and the mental illness of the attacker, it led to widespread concern and fear among Australians.
Cauchi was shot dead by police at the scene.
Just two days after the attack, Sydney Bishop Mari Emmanuel was stabbed in a terror attacked carried out while he was delivering a service at the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, NSW.
Emmanuel suffered the loss of an eye in the incident and two other men were injured in the attack.
The bishop’s 16-year-old attacker was charged with a terrorist act.
Burgess weighed in on the heightened alert level, saying there had been a rise in anti-authority beliefs and a decline in trust in democratic institutions.
“This trend increased during COVID, gained further momentum after the terrorist attacks in Israel and accelerated during Israel’s military response,” he said.
“The [Middle East] conflict has fuelled grievances, promoted protest, exacerbated division undermined social cohesion and elevated intolerance.”
Burgess said the most likely incidents would be from lone attackers with rudimentary weapons in crowded or public places.
There has also been widespread concern around the merging of various extremist beliefs generating hybrid ideologies, with a large number of youths being radicalised.
“Extremist ideologies, conspiracies, misinformation are flourishing in the online ecosystem and young Australians are particularly vulnerable,” Burgess said.
Anyone with concern around suspicious behaviour can call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 or email [email protected]