MOSCOW, December 16 (Sputnik) — Australia should keep under surveillance new Muslim converts and those returning from Syria and Iraq after the recent attack in Sydney cafe, Abdul Basit, security analyst associated with the Singapore-based terrorism research center told Sputnik Tuesday.
Second measure mentioned by the specialist is "keeping an eye on the new converts – those who are converting to Islam. They are the vulnerable segments who can be suspected of [provoking] radicalization and carrying out such attacks".
Finally, surveillance on "those who are returning from Syria and Iraq" should be carried out.
However, these are the immediate measures, Basit noted, adding that dialogue with Muslim segments of the population and other religious communities can be a long-term measure to promote harmony and stability in the society.
Lone wolves attacks by radicalized Muslims have already become the growing threat in Canada recently. In October, individual attacks by radicalized Canadian nationals took place in Quebec and Ottawa. Both Canada and Australia participate in the US-led coalition, which is currently carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq.
On Monday, 17 people were taken hostage by a gunman at Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in Sydney who was later identified as a self-proclaimed Iranian sheikh Man Haron Monis. Three people, including the gunman, have been killed and four injured when the police stormed the cafe to end 16-hours long siege.
Australian authorities announced a high-level terror alert in September, when they claimed to have stopped "demonstrative killings" in the country, plotted and orchestrated by the Islamic State. The terrorists were reportedly tasked to randomly choose victims on streets, wrap them in the extremist group's flag and behead them.
