Australian police terrorism threat level raised to high | Australia news | The GuardianAustralian police terrorism threat level raised to high | Australia news | The Guardian










Close






Skip to main content

 









sign in








subscribe









search




jobs






more


from the guardian:


jobs


change edition:



switch to the UK edition


switch to the AU edition







US edition




switch to the UK edition




switch to the Australia edition













The Guardian


Winner of the Pulitzer prize











home


›
world


›
australia




UK


europe


americas


asia


middle east


africa










home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







browse all sections
close







 











Australian security and counter-terrorism



Australian police terrorism threat level raised to high









Australian federal police say the change is the result of intelligence following the general threat level increase in September














An Australian federal police officer patrols the front of parliament house in Canberra in September. Photograph: Stefan Postles/AAP



Australian Associated Press


Monday 19 January 2015 20.35 EST







Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp
















The terrorism threat level for Australian police has been elevated to high.
The Australian federal police (AFP) said the change was a result of intelligence and discussions with its partners, and was in line with the broader threat level for the community.
It said the security environment was increasingly “complex and challenging”.
“Recent events in France, Canada and Australia serve as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with policing,” the AFP said.
“While relatively small, there are increasing numbers of Australians who are connected with or inspired by overseas terrorist groups such as the Islamic State ... with the intent and capability to conduct an attack against police.”
Australia’s general terrorism threat level was raised in September, after which each police service reviewed its security policies and practices. 
Soon after the AFP announcement, state and territory police forces began advising their members.
Queensland’s police commissioner, Ian Stewart, said there was no single incident in Australia which had triggered the action.
He has sent emails to members and their families to “ease any concerns” while reminding officers to aware of their personal safety.
“There is still no known specific threat against any person or place right now in this state that I know of ... I want to make that very very clear,” Stewart said.
He said Queensland police would be sympathetic to officers applying to carry their weapons at the end of their shifts. “I am very mindful that there are those officers who need to take weapons home.” 
Victoria’s acting chief commissioner, Tim Cartwright, has told state officers and police public servants to be vigilant but go about their lives as normal.




The rating of high means a terrorist attack against police in Australia has been assessed by federal authorities as likely.
“We are highly visible, we are easy to target ... you simply call us and we come,” Western Australia’s acting police commissioner, Stephen Brown, said.



Topics



Australian security and counter-terrorism




Australian police and policing




Islamic State (Isis)








Share on Facebook







Share on Twitter







Share via Email







Share on LinkedIn







Share on Google+







Share on WhatsApp


























View all comments >







comments 
Sign in
or create your Guardian account to join the discussion.

This discussion is closed for comments.

We’re doing some maintenance right now. You can still read comments, but please come back later to add your own.


Commenting has been disabled for this account (why?)







Order by 


newest


oldest




Show 25


25


50


100




Threads 


collapsed


expanded


unthreaded





Loading comments… Trouble loading?




View more comments







 






related content













popular












 








The Guardian






back to top














home




US




world
selected




opinion




sports




soccer




tech




arts




lifestyle




fashion




business




money




travel




environment







all sections
close







home




US




world
selected




UK




europe




americas




asia




middle east




africa




australia
selected






opinion




sports




soccer




MLS




NFL




MLB




NBA




NHL






soccer




live scores




tables




competitions




results




fixtures




clubs






tech




games






arts




movies




tv & radio




music




books




art & design




stage




classical






lifestyle




food




health




love & sex




family




women




home & garden






fashion




business




markets




companies






money




travel




USA




europe




UK






environment




development




cities






science




media




crosswords




video











World




›
Australia




›
Australian security and counter-terrorism








jobs

subscribe
all topics
all contributors

info and resources

contact us

feedback

complaints & corrections
terms & conditions
privacy policy
cookie policy
securedrop


© 2015 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.






















 
