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Australia 'faces permanent alert' | Australia 'faces permanent alert' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that his country is now under a permanent and increased threat of militant attack. | Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that his country is now under a permanent and increased threat of militant attack. |
He also announced plans to fingerprint and face-scan visitors from 10 high-risk countries. | He also announced plans to fingerprint and face-scan visitors from 10 high-risk countries. |
Mr Rudd said there was a growing threat from Islamist radicals born or raised in Australia. | Mr Rudd said there was a growing threat from Islamist radicals born or raised in Australia. |
Last week, five Australians of foreign origin received heavy sentences for conspiring to launch a jihadist attack. | Last week, five Australians of foreign origin received heavy sentences for conspiring to launch a jihadist attack. |
Home grown | Home grown |
Mr Rudd said that many "home-grown terrorists" were inspired by what he called international jihadist narratives, as he released a new report compiled by intelligence agencies. | Mr Rudd said that many "home-grown terrorists" were inspired by what he called international jihadist narratives, as he released a new report compiled by intelligence agencies. |
"The threat of home-grown terrorism is now increasing," he said. | "The threat of home-grown terrorism is now increasing," he said. |
"This white paper is clear: some of the threat we now face comes from the Australian-born, Australian-educated and Australian residents." | "This white paper is clear: some of the threat we now face comes from the Australian-born, Australian-educated and Australian residents." |
Al-Qaida-linked groups in Yemen and Sudan are the new centre of threat internationally, the policy paper says, and the risks posed by Afghanistan and Pakistan remain high. | Al-Qaida-linked groups in Yemen and Sudan are the new centre of threat internationally, the policy paper says, and the risks posed by Afghanistan and Pakistan remain high. |
The paper says that, despite Indonesia's successes against terrorism, the Jakarta hotel attacks of last July point to an ongoing threat there. | The paper says that, despite Indonesia's successes against terrorism, the Jakarta hotel attacks of last July point to an ongoing threat there. |
No escape | No escape |
"Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat and a serious challenge to Australia's security interests. That threat is not diminishing," Mr Rudd said. | "Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat and a serious challenge to Australia's security interests. That threat is not diminishing," Mr Rudd said. |
"In fact, the government security intelligence agencies assess that terrorism has become a persistent and permanent feature of Australia's security environment. These agencies warn that an attack could occur at any time." | "In fact, the government security intelligence agencies assess that terrorism has become a persistent and permanent feature of Australia's security environment. These agencies warn that an attack could occur at any time." |
Australian David Hicks, captured in 2001, spent five years in Guantanamo | Australian David Hicks, captured in 2001, spent five years in Guantanamo |
Australia will spend A$69m ($62m; £40m) on new biometric facilities and will set up a national control centre to co-ordinate efforts to fight extremism. | |
The government also plans to work with communities to stamp out radicalism by helping all ethnic groups integrate better with mainstream society. | The government also plans to work with communities to stamp out radicalism by helping all ethnic groups integrate better with mainstream society. |
Last week five Australian citizens of Lebanese, Libyan and Bangladeshi origin were jailed for up to 28 years for gathering weapons in preparation for an attack on an unknown target. | Last week five Australian citizens of Lebanese, Libyan and Bangladeshi origin were jailed for up to 28 years for gathering weapons in preparation for an attack on an unknown target. |
In August, five men with alleged links to Somalia's al-Shabab militants were arrested and charged over an alleged plot to attack a Sydney military barracks. | |
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said about 40 people have been arrested in Australia on terror charges since 2000. | Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said about 40 people have been arrested in Australia on terror charges since 2000. |
"Whilst the numbers are small... it only takes one to get through," he said, adding that the techniques used by home-grown militants were evolving. | "Whilst the numbers are small... it only takes one to get through," he said, adding that the techniques used by home-grown militants were evolving. |
"We are now seeing emerging the potential so-called lone wolf escapade where we don't have sophisticated planning but an individual is seduced by the international jihad and as a lone wolf does extreme things," he told ABC radio. | "We are now seeing emerging the potential so-called lone wolf escapade where we don't have sophisticated planning but an individual is seduced by the international jihad and as a lone wolf does extreme things," he told ABC radio. |
He said the 10 countries to face more stringent entry procedures would not be named yet. "There may be a diplomatic effort required in regards to some of those countries, as you would expect," he said. | He said the 10 countries to face more stringent entry procedures would not be named yet. "There may be a diplomatic effort required in regards to some of those countries, as you would expect," he said. |
Australia is a close ally of the United States. It was among the first to commit troops to US-led campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Australia is a close ally of the United States. It was among the first to commit troops to US-led campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
It has not suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil, but 95 Australians have been killed in militant bombings in neighbouring Indonesia since 2001. | It has not suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil, but 95 Australians have been killed in militant bombings in neighbouring Indonesia since 2001. |
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