Australia's terror level upgraded to 'probable'
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The news: Australia's terror threat level has been upgraded from 'possible' to 'probable'.
The numbers: The change was made after the nation's domestic security agency, ASIO, identified up to eight terrorist incidents since April.
In five of the eight, the alleged offender was a minor — prompting ASIO to become increasingly concerned about the radicalisation of Australian youth.
The context: The increased threat of an attack is being fuelled by a rise in community division and grievances against the government, which started during the pandemic but has been exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the threat level has returned to probable for the first time since November 2022.
Burgess said politically motivated violence now ranked alongside espionage and foreign interference as ASIO's chief concerns.
Albanese stressed the new probability rating did not mean there was specific intelligence about an imminent threat or danger but rather was driven by an increasing number of Australians embracing "a more diverse range" of extremist ideologies.
The eight incidents since April have either been declared as terrorist attacks, are still being assessed or were disrupted by authorities. The stabbing of a bishop at a church in Western Sydney was the first of the attacks.
What they said: Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Burgess said: "We are seeing spikes in political polarisation and intolerance, uncivil debate and unpeaceful protests. Anti-authority beliefs are growing. Trust in institutions is eroding. Provocative, inflammatory behaviours are being normalised ... ASIO anticipates an increase in politically-motivated violence, including terrorism".
The source: Prime Minister's press conference.
