Sydney: Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott had warned of a heightened level of “terrorist chatter” in the aftermath of the fatal Sydney café siege and claimed on Tuesday for another attack was consider likely.
Following a meeting of his National Security Committee, PM Abbott said, “A briefing from the security agencies today indicated that there has been a heightened level of terrorist chatter in the aftermath of the Martin Place siege.”
He said, “We don’t know when and how an attack may come, but we do know there are people with the intent and the capability to carry out further attacks.”
Notify that Haron Monis, the Iranian-born gunman had a history of extremism and violence, took 17 hostages in the city’s financial heartland last week, unveiling an Islamic flag and demanding to talk to Abbott.
After 16 hours, Monis had been killed by armed police.
Two hostages also died – mother-of-three Katrina Dawson, 38, and 34-year-old Lindt café manager Tori Johnson – while several others were injured.
Beyond the high current, PM Abbott did not raise terror alert level of Australia.
He also cautioned that “at this level, an attack is likely”.
He said, “I am alerting people to the fact that the terror threat remains high and as you all understand, at this level, an attack is likely… That’s why it’s important that people remain alert and aware as well as reassured that our police and security agencies are doing everything they humanly can to keep us safe.”
Notify that threat level had been raised in Australia in September and it carried out a series of counter-terrorism raids across Sydney and Brisbane following a flow of its nationals to Iraq and Syria to fight with the Islamic State group and other jihadists.
At high, a terrorist attack is seen as likely. An extreme alert level means an attack is imminent or has occurred.
Notify that Australia has not officially branded the Sydney siege as a terrorist attack.
Bureau Report
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