Robert Besser
02 Dec 2022, 11:42 GMT+10
SYDNEY, Australia: For the first time in eight years, Australia lowered its terrorism threat level from "probable" to "possible," due to a reduced risk of attacks from extremists.
The country's terrorist threat level was raised in 2014, as many Australians were believed to be fighting overseas with Islamist militant groups, along with the risks posed by those Australians who had been radicalized in Iraq or Syria.
However, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said the factors justifying the heightened threat levels no longer existed or were greatly reduced.
Mike Burgess, ASIO director-general of security, told reporters, "While Australia remains a potential terrorist target, there are fewer extremists to conduct an attack onshore."
However, the change did not mean all terror threats had been extinguished, he added, stressing, "It remains plausible that someone will die at the hands of a terrorist in Australia within the next 12 months, although, of course, we will work around the clock to prevent that."
Resuming a controversial program criticized by the Liberal-National opposition, last month, the country's Labor government repatriated four Australian women and their 13 children from a Syrian refugee camp.
The offshore networks, capabilities and allure of radical Islamic groups have been degraded, with their support in Australia fading, though it has not yet disappeared, Burgess added.
"While ASIO considered all these factors when deciding to lower the terrorism threat level, I can almost guarantee it will need to go up again at some point in the future," he added.
Get a daily dose of BC Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to BC Post.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: The White House said this week that Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk met with John Podesta, a Democratic ...
MANILA, Philippines: In an effort to attract more tourists, President Ferdinand Marcos has approved a value-added tax refund program for ...
TRIPOLI, Libya: Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni held talks on energy and migration in Libya this weekend, which are major ...
MIAMI, Florida: This decade, the US south is expected to see more new residents than any other region in the ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: After reporting record revenues in the fourth-quarter of 2022, US airlines expect strong travel demand ...
MANILA, Philippines: After a Filipina domestic worker was killed and dumped in the desert in the oil-rich emirate of Kuwait, ...
No. 12 Gonzaga's most recent game at the McCarthey Athletic Center, known as "The Kennel," didn't go well. The Bulldogs ...
Colombo [Sri Lanka], February 1 (ANI): Sri Lanka on Wednesday named their 15-member squad for the forthcoming ICC Women's T20 ...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 1 (ANI): Legendary Indian pacer Jhulan has been roped in by the Mumbai franchise in the ...
Sydney [Australia], February 1 (ANI): Lisa Keightley, a former Australian player and well-known coach, has been hired by Sydney Thunder ...
Russian troops have positioned themselves to prevent the resupply of Ukrainian troops in Artyomovsk, a key aide claimsRussian troops are ...
Dubai [UAE], February 1 (ANI): The accolades continue to roll in for Suryakumar Yadav as the India dynamo and world's ...