MOSCOW, January 20 (Sputnik) — The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has increased terrorism threat level in the country to "high" amid terror attacks in France, Canada and Australia, the police said Tuesday.
#Australia raises terror threat level against police to 'high' http://t.co/APB6kLbbPP #news
— Live Breaking News (@mywabot) January 20, 2015
"As a result of intelligence information and discussions with our partners, the terrorism threat level against police is assessed as high, which is commensurate with the broader threat level for the community," the police said in a release published on the AFP website.
While @CAIRNational #CAIR is yelling about Islamophobia, Australia just raised its terror threat level against police pic.twitter.com/UQzKSMMimK
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) January 20, 2015
The threat level for the country was raised in September 2014, as the security environment in Australia remained "complex and challenging".
"Recent events in France, Canada and Australia serve as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with policing," the release said.
According to the statement, more and more Australians are linked to terrorist groups like Islamic State, capable of carrying out an attack on police. In light of the situation, all police jurisdictions are said to have made adjustments to their security policies.
In December 2014, Australia became a target of a terror attack when 17 people were taken hostage in a cafe in Sydney by a gunman identified as Man Haron Monis, a self-proclaimed Iranian sheikh. Monis was killed when police stormed the cafe, with two more people falling victim to the incident.
After the attack, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that terror threat in the country remained high, classifying a terror attack as likely.
