Australia raises terror threat level to 'high'

Australia raised its terror threat level to 'high' from 'medium' on Friday, saying there was an increased likelihood of a terrorist attack at home but stressed it had no knowledge of a specific attack plan. 

"Last night the director general of security raised the terror threat to high, consequently today the government is raising the public awareness level to high," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a news conference in Melbourne.  "I want to stress that this does not mean that a terror attack is imminent. We have no specific intelligence of particular plots. What we do have is intelligence that there are people with the intent and capability to mount attacks here in Australia." 

David Irvine, the outgoing head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), has said that the number of Australians returning from fighting with Islamic State and other radical groups pose a growing risk. 

"The National Terrorism Public Alert System guides national preparation and planning. It also dictates levels of precaution and vigilance to minimise the risk of a terrorist incident occurring," the Australian National Security website informed. "While the public alert system may not directly affect your day to day life, it is important that you are aware that these arrangements exist. All Australian governments are committed to ensuring that you can have confidence in Australia's ability to respond to any terrorist threat or activity," it added.

(Reportintg Ian Chua; Editing by Michael Perry)