Australia’s terrorist threat level has been raised from possible to probable.
The threat level has been raised due to the increased risk of politically motivated violence.
While it has not been raised due to a specific incident, it is understood there have been multiple incidents in Australia investigated by security officials for possible links to terrorism.
The Middle East conflict is also understood to have exacerbated security agencies’ concerns about politically motivated violence in Australia, although it is not the direct cause of the increased threat level.
This is the first time the threat level has been raised since 2014, during the height of threats from the Islamic State terrorist group.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said governments around the world were concerned about online radicalisation and rising tensions over the war in Gaza.
‘The essence and purpose of our democracy is that we can express our opinions and respectfully engage in disagreement and respectful debate and resolve our grievances peacefully.
‘When the temperature of the security environment rises, we must lower the temperature of the debate.
“Because our words and our actions matter.”
Australia’s threat level has been raised due to increased risk of politically motivated violence