The national counter-terrorism co-ordinator Greg Moriarty, who chaired the meeting, said this was the strong view among police gathered at the Canberra summit.
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‘I do not think it is appropriate for me to go into that, ‘ he said.
THE head of the Australian Federal Police has warned that the threat of terrorism in Australia is getting worse, after confirmation that a 12-year-old is among a group of radicalised youth on the police radar in connection with the Parramatta shooter.
“Those matters, as you would understand, are particularly important to the NSW police force as we lost one of our own”, Scipione said. The teenager was shot dead by police during the incident.
The court order prohibits terrorism suspect Ahmad Saiyer Naizmand from communicating with 18 males, including the 12-year-old and an 18-year-old who is in detention in relation to the fatal shooting of Curtis Cheng by 15-year-old Farhad Jabar at NSW police headquarters in Parramatta, the ABC reported.
‘This threat has evolved, it’s become younger.
In April, several teens were arrested on suspicion of plotting an Islamic State group-inspired attack at a Veterans’ Day ceremony in Melbourne.
The killing has shocked Australians, amid concerns about the radicalisation of young people.
The Australian government earlier issued a statement on toughening counter-terrorism laws, which read: “The new laws will, among other things, lower the age at which a control order can be applied from sixteen to fourteen years of age”.
In 2014, a Middle Eastern man took hostages in a café that became known as the “Sydney Siege” which resulted in the death of many hostages and the gunman.
“We must continue to reject the proposition there has to be a trade-off between tough counter terror measures and positive engagement with and respect for Australia’s Muslim community”, he said.
“And all of you – and your colleagues are in the frontline – and it is vital that we work closely together, [are] absolutely critical”.
“The shocking murder of Cheng, a shocking act of terrorism perpetrated by a 15-year-old, reminds us yet again that radicalisation, extremism can be seen in the very young”, he said. “This is a real home grown threat, and it appals all Australians and it appals all Muslim Australians”, Turnbull was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.
Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its battle against Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since previous year.
“As we deal with these threats and the people that seek to turn children into terrorists, we have to be as agile as they are”.
Mr. Turnbull said those present must be prepared to experiment and try new approaches.
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“That’s why we need to have regular meetings like this, to exchange ideas… as part of the effort of protecting the harmonious diversity of Australia”.
