Australia terror threat level could go up, says ASIO head David Irvine

[nero_bolt]

AUSTRALIA could soon be put on a higher terrorism threat alert level.

ASIO director-general David Irvine is seriously considering lifting the level from medium because of the number of people returning from fighting in Iraq and Syria.

Security agencies were aware of more than 20 people in Australia who had fought in the Middle East and posed a threat to national security, Mr Irvine told the ABC’s 7.30 Report tonight.

He said the threat to Australia was now “a very elevated level of medium”.

“I’m certainly contemplating very seriously the notion of lifting it higher because of the numbers of people that we are having to be concerned about here in Australia,” he said.

The “medium” threat rating means a terrorist attack could occur in Australia and the “high” level is used when government and agencies believe an attack is likely.

Australia’s four-level alert system goes to extreme, when an attack is imminent or has occurred.

In announcing plans to strengthen anti-terrorism laws in August, Prime Minister Tony Abbott stressed the terrorist threat to Australia had not changed.

Australia has been at the “medium” alert level since the four-tier system was introduced in 2003.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/australia-terror-threat-level-could-go-up-says-asio...

[daydream**believer]

They must of found some credible evidence in this latest book store raid.

Anyone who thinks that there arnt terrosits in Australia and that theyarnt recruiting members, needs to get their head out of the sand

[softail-joanie]

I don't, but rather I am as a loss why anyone anywhere in the world can't clearly see with internet and access to all kinds of information and so much proof of the deception surrounding this idea that we should live in constant fear until the very ones we look to for protection from the big bad terrorists, turn out to be worse than the thing we started out being afraid of.

I lost count of the number of times the TSA have ruined some poor traveler's day, yet, I can't seem to find a single case of them actually stopping a terrorist.

[nero_bolt]

Tony Abbott announces Australian terror threat raised from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ 

TONY Abbott has announced the Australian terror threat has been raised from medium to “high”.

“Last night the director general of security, ASIO head David Irvine, raised the terror threat to high,” the PM revealed at a press conference in Melbourne.

“Consequently the government today is raising the public alert level to high.

The PM stressed “this does not mean that a terror attack is imminent.”

“We have no speific intelligence of a particular plot,” he said.

“What we do have is that there are people with the intent and capability to mount attacks.”

The announcement comes after ASIO’s outgoing chief David Irvine this week revealed security authorities were “actively considering” raising Australia’s terrorism threat level from “medium” to “high”.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/tony-abbott-announces-australian-terror-threat-raised-fr...

[nero_bolt]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/the-pulse-live/terror-alert-tony-abbott-addresses-t...

[polksaladallie]