jackovesk
10th September 2014, 15:29
TERROR MESSAGE: Please stay calm, carry on Australia
September 10, 2014
AUSTRALIANS will be told to keep calm and carry on in the likely event ASIO’s director-general David Irvine raises the national security threat from medium to high by week’s end.
As both the AFL and rugby grand finals approach, and we tomorrow mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 suicide plane attacks on Manhattan and Washington DC, the Federal Government is anxious that people not panic and go about their normal lives.
It also wants anyone who suspects they know dangerously radicalised people to speak up now.
The government is currently formulating a careful public response to the new threat and will try to strike a balance between raising public awareness of suspicious activities while trying not to cause fright.
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/199809-5e1325d8-38a9-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Thirteen years ago ... a hijacked commercial plane (left) moments before crashing into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, as smoke billows from the other tower (right) which was attacked earlier that day. Source: AFP
Mr Irvine has indicated he is considering raising the current terror threat from the longstanding medium status, meaning that a “terrorist attack could occur” to high, which states that “a terrorist attack is likely.”
The highest of the four levels in Australia is extreme, meaning an attack is imminent or has just occurred.
Professor Greg Barton from Monash University, director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre, said visible changes had not been seen on the streets of the UK since it raised its terror alert to “severe” a fortnight ago and we could expect the same here.
“Perhaps some annoying delays going to sporting venues and boarding planes, but this is also intended to prompt people to speak up,” he said.
“If they have concerns and have been on the edge of speaking out, it’s hoped this will shift them into taking action. Maybe they have been to the police and not got a receptive audience. Now they will be listened to.
“The real hope now is that it will encourage people who think they know radicalised people to speak up.”
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/199943-b786da78-38a0-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Public response ... ASIO’s David Irvine says Australians will be told to keep calm and carry on if the terror alert level is raised. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Corp Australia
Part of the concern, according to Mr Irvine’s comments to the ABC’s 7.30 Report, is that some 20 jihadists have already arrived back in Australia after fighting in Syria or Iraq.
It is likely that some of them are now under constant surveillance, although it is not clear how they were able to re-enter Australia unnoticed.
It is also possible that some of those who returned were not supporters of the Islamic State, or ISIS, but instead went to Syria with the sole purpose of supporting rebels fighting the army of President Bashar al-Assad.
However, the Syrian war has changed nature and morphed into ISIS, and many who went to Syria have been radicalised.
The standard advice from the government’s Australian National Security site is that people should continue their lives as normal.
“There is no reason for any of us to stay away from public places or change our normal routines or domestic holiday plans,” says the advice.
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/200952-db8c5b92-38a9-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Terror alert ... as the AFL grand final approaches the government is cautious that people do not panic. Source: Supplied
“It is essential that we do not allow the threat of terrorism to change the way of life we value so highly.”
It says if there was any credible threat of a specific planned attack, people would be advised well in advance.
As to the increase in action by officers from the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, Professor Barton said they were mostly putting in longer hours at the office, and hoping for strong information from the public.
“We might see more armed officials, more thorough checks taking place, but most of the work in intelligence is not stuff we see.”
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told ABC radio we were “living in very uncertain times, the issues in Iraq and Syria are not just occurring there in terms of their potential reach, they can reach countries such as Australia”.
He said Australians could expect longer delays boarding planes as checks became more thorough, though there was no suggestion from Mr Morrison that there was specific advice about a direct threat in the skies.
* ASIO asks people to ring the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 if they have concerns or information on threats, or believe they have information of possible terrorist activity or have seen or heard something suspicious that may need investigation by security agencies.
http://www.news.com.au/national/australians-will-be-urged-to-stay-calm-carry-on-if-national-security-threat-is-raised-to-high/story-fncynjr2-1227054201998
PS - Told ya...:yes4:
I didn't even need to read this to tell you what it says, the headline said it all..!!!
September 10, 2014
AUSTRALIANS will be told to keep calm and carry on in the likely event ASIO’s director-general David Irvine raises the national security threat from medium to high by week’s end.
As both the AFL and rugby grand finals approach, and we tomorrow mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 suicide plane attacks on Manhattan and Washington DC, the Federal Government is anxious that people not panic and go about their normal lives.
It also wants anyone who suspects they know dangerously radicalised people to speak up now.
The government is currently formulating a careful public response to the new threat and will try to strike a balance between raising public awareness of suspicious activities while trying not to cause fright.
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/199809-5e1325d8-38a9-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Thirteen years ago ... a hijacked commercial plane (left) moments before crashing into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, as smoke billows from the other tower (right) which was attacked earlier that day. Source: AFP
Mr Irvine has indicated he is considering raising the current terror threat from the longstanding medium status, meaning that a “terrorist attack could occur” to high, which states that “a terrorist attack is likely.”
The highest of the four levels in Australia is extreme, meaning an attack is imminent or has just occurred.
Professor Greg Barton from Monash University, director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre, said visible changes had not been seen on the streets of the UK since it raised its terror alert to “severe” a fortnight ago and we could expect the same here.
“Perhaps some annoying delays going to sporting venues and boarding planes, but this is also intended to prompt people to speak up,” he said.
“If they have concerns and have been on the edge of speaking out, it’s hoped this will shift them into taking action. Maybe they have been to the police and not got a receptive audience. Now they will be listened to.
“The real hope now is that it will encourage people who think they know radicalised people to speak up.”
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/199943-b786da78-38a0-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Public response ... ASIO’s David Irvine says Australians will be told to keep calm and carry on if the terror alert level is raised. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Corp Australia
Part of the concern, according to Mr Irvine’s comments to the ABC’s 7.30 Report, is that some 20 jihadists have already arrived back in Australia after fighting in Syria or Iraq.
It is likely that some of them are now under constant surveillance, although it is not clear how they were able to re-enter Australia unnoticed.
It is also possible that some of those who returned were not supporters of the Islamic State, or ISIS, but instead went to Syria with the sole purpose of supporting rebels fighting the army of President Bashar al-Assad.
However, the Syrian war has changed nature and morphed into ISIS, and many who went to Syria have been radicalised.
The standard advice from the government’s Australian National Security site is that people should continue their lives as normal.
“There is no reason for any of us to stay away from public places or change our normal routines or domestic holiday plans,” says the advice.
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/09/10/1227054/200952-db8c5b92-38a9-11e4-9209-b8d69e4f035f.jpg
Terror alert ... as the AFL grand final approaches the government is cautious that people do not panic. Source: Supplied
“It is essential that we do not allow the threat of terrorism to change the way of life we value so highly.”
It says if there was any credible threat of a specific planned attack, people would be advised well in advance.
As to the increase in action by officers from the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, Professor Barton said they were mostly putting in longer hours at the office, and hoping for strong information from the public.
“We might see more armed officials, more thorough checks taking place, but most of the work in intelligence is not stuff we see.”
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told ABC radio we were “living in very uncertain times, the issues in Iraq and Syria are not just occurring there in terms of their potential reach, they can reach countries such as Australia”.
He said Australians could expect longer delays boarding planes as checks became more thorough, though there was no suggestion from Mr Morrison that there was specific advice about a direct threat in the skies.
* ASIO asks people to ring the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400 if they have concerns or information on threats, or believe they have information of possible terrorist activity or have seen or heard something suspicious that may need investigation by security agencies.
http://www.news.com.au/national/australians-will-be-urged-to-stay-calm-carry-on-if-national-security-threat-is-raised-to-high/story-fncynjr2-1227054201998
PS - Told ya...:yes4:
I didn't even need to read this to tell you what it says, the headline said it all..!!!