Key Points
- Australia has increased its terrorist threat level.
- Anthony Albanese says more Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies.
- ASIO is concerned about the possibility of small groups or individuals launching attacks with “rudimentary weapons”.
Australia’s terrorism threat level has been raised from ‘likely’ to ‘possible’, with eight incidents investigated in Australia since April.
The threat level was lowered in 2022, but a rise in extremism across the political and ideological spectrum has forced an increase, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday.
“I want to reassure Australians that probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean that this is intelligence of an imminent threat or danger,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
“But the advice we have received is that more and more Australians are embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies and it is our responsibility to be vigilant.”
The eight disturbances investigated over the past four months involved men aged 14 to 21.
with authorities noting that young Australians are particularly vulnerable.
ASIO concerned about politically motivated violence
ASIO chief executive Mike Burgess, speaking at the announcement, said political violence was now, along with espionage and foreign interference, his agency’s main security concern.
“We are seeing an increase in extremism, more Australians are becoming radicalized and radicalizing more quickly,” he said.
“More and more Australians are prepared to use violence to advance their cause.
“This includes violent protests, riots and attacks against a politician or democratic institutions.”
Burgess said that while political differences and debate are an essential part of a healthy democracy: “provocative and inflammatory behavior is being normalized” and “trust in institutions is eroding.”
He said “this trend became more pronounced during COVID and accelerated after the terrorist attacks against Israel and accelerated during Israel’s military response.”
“This dynamic raises the temperature of the security environment.”
The war in Gaza is not the cause of an increase in the threat
Burgess said the decision was not related to the .
“At this stage, we do not believe that any of the terrorist plots we investigated last year were inspired by Gaza,” he said.
“Offshore terrorist leaders do not inspire attacks on land. That is why we did not increase the threat level immediately after October 7.”
But he added: “…the conflict has fueled grievances, encouraged protests, exacerbated divisions, undermined social cohesion and increased intolerance.”
Threat of attacks
Burgess said he was unable to provide details of the eight “attacks or disturbances involving either allegations of terrorism or being investigated as potential acts of terrorism” in Australia over the past four recent months.
However, he said the most likely terrorist acts would be the types of attacks involving an individual or small group “using rudimentary weapons such as knives, improvised explosives or a firearm.”
“Individuals turn to violence with little or no warning and little or no planning,” he said.
“Acts of violence can be almost spontaneous and purely reactive.”
Burgess said there had been a “resurgence in the number of minors embracing violent extremism”.
“Extremist ideologies and disinformation conspiracies are flourishing in the online ecosystem and young Australians are particularly vulnerable.”
