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Business News/ News / World/  Islamic State terrorism threats put UK, Australia on alert
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Islamic State terrorism threats put UK, Australia on alert

US says there are no plans to raise the threat level in the US

Cameron says the battle against Islamic extremism is a generational struggle which will probably last decades. Photo: BloombergPremium
Cameron says the battle against Islamic extremism is a generational struggle which will probably last decades. Photo: Bloomberg

London: Australia joined the UK in heightening warnings against terrorism, with both governments concerned citizens who have joined Islamic State militants may return with plans to attack on their home soil.

We remain in close contact with the UK and other partners about the threat from terrorist groups active in Syria and Iraq and from returning foreign fighters, attorney-general George Brandis said in an e-mailed statement on Saturday. It is of serious concern that Australian citizens are active in these groups.

Australia’s stance comes after the UK on Friday raised its terror threat to severe, the second-highest level, due to new intelligence, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying the battle against Islamic extremism is a generational struggle which will probably last decades. Their US ally earlier this month authorized air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq while ordering surveillance flights over Syria.

The UK public could expect to see more police, including armed officers, on the streets as a result of the increased threat level, Cameron told reporters in London on Friday. He will also announce new legislation on 1 September to make it easier to confiscate the passports of people suspected of wanting to travel to join extremist groups including Islamic State, the Sunni militant group also known as ISIL and ISIS that has captured ground in both Syria and Iraq.

‘Greater threat’

What we are facing in Iraq now with ISIL is a greater threat to our security than we have seen before, Cameron said. We could be facing a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO member.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Turkey shares a border with both Syria and Iraq.

The UK’s Severe terrorism threat rating means an attack is highly likely, but that there’s no intelligence about a specific plot. The highest level is Imminent.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said there are no plans to raise the threat level in the US.

Obama administration officials have been in contact with their counterparts in the UK about the British decision, he said.

Australia’s government, which hasn’t ruled out participating in US air strikes, has assessed there were about 60 Australians fighting in Syria and Iraq for terrorism groups, with about 100 more involved in facilitation and support for those groups, Brandis said. Australia’s terrorism public alert system remained at Medium, indicating an attack could occur, he said.

Medieval state

Cameron said Islamic State believes in using the most brutal forms of terrorism to force people to accept a warped world view and live in an almost medieval state.

He said that military force was only part of fighting the group, and that political change would be needed in the region as well.

Earlier, home secretary Theresa May explained the decision by the government’s Joint Terrorism Analysis Center to raise the threat level.

The increase in the threat level is related to developments in Syria and Iraq where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the West, May said in a statement in London. Some of those plots are likely to involve foreign fighters who have traveled there from the UK and Europe to take part in those conflicts.

Cameron said at least 500 people have traveled from the UK to fight in Iraq and Syria with Islamic State. BLOOMBERG

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Published: 30 Aug 2014, 12:36 PM IST
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