## A Deeper Dive into the Sydney Terrorist Attack
On Tuesday morning, a joint press conference was held by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw, and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess to address the incident involving a 16-year-old boy in Sydney that was being treated as an alleged terrorist attack.
The trio expressed their support for the NSW police and the state government in classifying the incident as a terrorist attack, citing its apparent religious motivation. The AFP and ASIO will now collaborate with NSW authorities in the investigation.
Mr. Burgess clarified the distinction between the Sydney attack and Saturday's stabbing rampage in Bondi Junction, which was not classified as terrorism. He explained that the key factor is the presence of "information or evidence" suggesting a religious or ideological motivation. In the Sydney case, such evidence exists, while it was absent in the Bondi Junction incident.
This raises the question of what constitutes a terrorist act in Australia. According to the Australian government, it is an act, or a threat to commit an act, intended to coerce or influence the public or government through intimidation, in furtherance of a political, religious, or ideological cause. The act must also involve violence or the threat of violence.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb elaborated on the factors influencing her decision to declare the Sydney attack a terrorist incident. These included the alleged perpetrator's armed entry into the church, the stabbing of the bishop and others, and the subsequent intimidation of both those present and those watching online.
Despite this incident, Australia's current National Terrorism Threat Level remains at POSSIBLE. Mr. Burgess emphasized that this does not imply the absence of terrorist threats, but rather indicates a heightened risk of attacks by individuals with little or no warning, using readily available weapons like knives or vehicles.
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team, a collaborative effort between various agencies, is now investigating the Sydney incident. Their focus will be on understanding how the incident occurred and the individual involved. They will also assess any potential further threats to the community.
The Sydney attack serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism, even as the threat level remains at POSSIBLE. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between various agencies in investigating and responding to such incidents.