On Monday, Australia elevated its terrorism threat level to “probable,” as the nation’s leading intelligence officer highlighted a surge in homegrown “extreme ideologies.” This adjustment reflects a growing concern over the potential for violence in the coming year, despite no current indication of an imminent attack.
Mike Burgess, the chief of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), addressed the media, underscoring the deteriorating security environment in Australia. “Australia’s security environment is degrading, is more volatile and more unpredictable,” Burgess remarked. He emphasized a significant shift in the nation’s primary security concerns, noting that politically motivated violence has now joined espionage and foreign interference as critical threats.
Burgess pointed out an alarming trend of Australians being radicalized, with a rising number willing to resort to violence to further their causes. “Individuals are embracing anti-authority ideologies, conspiracy theories and diverse grievances. Some are combining multiple beliefs to create new hybrid ideologies,” he explained.
Previously, Australia’s terrorism threat level had been set at “possible.” Burgess attributed the escalation in extreme ideologies to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent geopolitical conflicts, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict. “An escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, particularly in southern Lebanon, would inflict further strain, aggravating tensions and potentially fueling grievances,” he warned.
In the last four months, ASIO recorded eight incidents of attacks or disruptions with alleged or potential terrorist links. Burgess, however, declined to provide detailed commentary on these cases. One notable incident occurred in April, where a 16-year-old boy allegedly stabbed an Assyrian Christian bishop during a live-streamed church service in Sydney. Burgess clarified that while none of the terror plots investigated over the past year were directly inspired by events in Gaza, the ongoing conflict had indirectly fueled grievances, protests, and societal divisions.
Burgess emphasized the complexity of the current threat landscape, noting that it would be inaccurate to pinpoint the next terrorist attack or plot to a specific ideology or religion. “The threat is across the board,” he stated. He also highlighted the role of social media and encrypted communication platforms in radicalizing individuals and making threats harder to predict and identify. “The internet and social media were the primary platform for radicalization and the use of encryption by every single one of our investigative subjects,” he noted.
The intelligence chief warned that in the new threat environment, attacks were likely to be carried out by individuals or small groups using rudimentary weapons, often with minimal warning or planning. He also mentioned a troubling “resurgence” in the involvement of minors, with one recent perpetrator being just 14 years old.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the government’s response to these rising threats. He stated that the government was collaborating with social media companies to eliminate extreme and violent content from their platforms and to implement age-verification technology. Albanese also pointed out that other nations, including the United States and Britain, were facing similar challenges with the rise of extreme ideologies. “Governments around the world are concerned about youth radicalization, online radicalization, and the rise of new mixed ideologies,” he said.
This heightened alert and the strategic measures being put in place underscore Australia’s proactive stance in addressing and mitigating the evolving threat of terrorism. The collaboration between the government, intelligence agencies, and technology companies is crucial in combating the multifaceted nature of modern radicalization and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
