Minto terror attack a wake-up call, national security hotline calls spike
CALLS from the public to the national security hotline soared 50 per cent in the 24 hours after the alleged IS-inspired terrorist attack in Minto.
NSW
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CALLS from the public to the national security hotline spiked 50 per cent in the 24 hours after the alleged Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack in Minto on Saturday, officials have revealed.
The deluge of tip-offs to ASIO and the Australian Federal Police comes as The Daily Telegraph can reveal the average number of calls flooding into the hotline has risen 40 per cent since April to number almost 70 a day.
Many calls, according to one intelligence official, are now coming from families alerting agencies to a relative who may be attempting to leave the country to join IS.
Figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph show an average of 2000 calls, emails, letters or SMS a month are now being processed through the hotline from people reporting suspicious behaviour or suspected terrorist activity.
This number has steadily risen since the national terrorism threat level was raised to probable in 2014 and the number of calls has more than doubled since the hotline was launched in 2002 by the Howard government. A total of 244,000 tip-offs have been made since its inception.
An intelligence source said that while much of the traffic did not result in concrete intelligence a “significant number” were contributing to investigations.
AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the hotline was more critical as the terrorist threat evolved to a point “that people can be radicalised and obtain the capability to act quickly”.
“If a person not known to law enforcement starts displaying extremist behaviours, the only way we are going to know early enough to do something about it is if someone in the community calls us,” he said.
“The volume of calls to the hotline shows the community wants to play a part in ensuring public safety. As Commissioner, I want to keep encouraging people to call the national security hotline if they are aware of something that concerns them. Every call is taken seriously.”
Attorney-General George Brandis said lone wolf attacks by people not necessarily on the radar were now posing a serious challenge for the authorities.
“Lone attacks are a disturbing and increasing trend around the world. These are violent attacks by individuals, often young people, who identify in some way with ISIL’s perverse ideology,” Mr Brandis said.
“In this evolving threat environment, we must partner with our communities to keep Australia safe. It’s often those closest to people at risk who will notice the changes in personality or behaviour.”
If something doesn’t add up, speak up by calling the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
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