PM Scott Morrison says nation is under threat by ‘radical ideology of extremist Islam’
IN THE wake of the Bourke St, Melbourne terror attack, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called out radical Islam, saying “the greatest threat of religious extremism in this country is the radical and dangerous ideology of extremist Islam”.
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison says the Bourke St terrorist who killed one and injured two others has violated the nation’s trust — saying “the greatest threat of religious extremism in this country is the radical and dangerous ideology of extremist Islam”.
Mr Morrison said Hassan Khalif Shire Ali tried but failed to instil fear in Australia after he knifed three people in Melbourne on Friday.
He was shot dead by Victoria Police after lunged at them in a crowded shopping precinct.
Mr Morrison said Ali was one of about 400 people on a national ASIO terror watch list.
“Here in Australia we would be kidding ourselves if we did not call out the fact that the greatest threat of religious extremism in this country is the radical and dangerous ideology of extremist Islam,” Mr Morrison said.
“There is a special responsibility on religious leaders to protect their religious communities and to ensure dangerous teachings and ideologies do not take root here.”
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Mr Morrison has also called out the “insidious evil” of violent Islam and urged religious leaders to weed out those who try to promote terrorism.
“As a nation we grieve today for a life tragically and violently taken,” Mr Morrison said at a press conference today.
“A fellow Australian who was felled in our streets by another Australian who had violated the trust and opportunity gifted to him by a generous nation.
“There were six attacks of this nature prior to this one, but there have been more that have been thwarted.”
Mr Morrison said the national terrorism threat level remains at probable.
Since that level was first raised on September 12, 2014, there have been 90 people charged as a result of 40 counter terrorism related operations around Australia.
There have been 14 successful counter terrorism disruptions to operations in response to potential terrorism attacks in Australia.
Mr Morrison said they have passed 12 tranches of counter terrorism legislation on a bipartisan basis.
“I’ve sat in the living room of a family, whose four sons went and fought for ISIL, the Daesh,” Mr Morrison said.
“And they all died. I’ve seen the look of complete loss in the eyes of a mother and a father, who just were bewildered by what were thieves who came and corrupted their kids.”
Mr Morrison urged Australians to go about their business despite the terrorist attack.
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