ASIO boss Mike Burgess says change in terror threat level unlikely after caravan bomb discovery

ASIO chief Mike Burgess noted a “disturbing escalation” in anti-Semitic hate acts, after a caravan packed full of explosives was discovered in a Sydney suburb.

Australia’s intelligence boss Mike Burgess says he does not anticipate a change to the national terrorism threat level despite a “disturbing escalation” in anti-Semitic acts.

The threat level was raised to probable last August, meaning there is more than a 50 per cent chance of a domestic terrorist attack or attack planning in the next 12 months.

The ASIO director-general made the rare comments following the discovery of an explosive-laden caravan alongside addresses of potential Jewish targets in northwestern Sydney.

NSW Police and other agencies have been secretly investigating the incident since January 19.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said the security agency was not anticipating a change in Australia’s national terrorism threat level. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Although he acknowledged the incident was “distressing,” Mr Burgess said the caravan matter remained under police investigation and said ASIO did not believe there are ongoing concerns for community safety.

“We have seen a disturbing escalation in the targeting of Jewish interests, and a disturbing escalation in the severity and recklessness of the targeting, with general harassment and intimidation moving to the targeting of people and places,” he said.

“These incidents are appalling, and particularly distressing for the Jewish community.”

Mr Burgess also said ASIO had “anticipated spikes in politically motivated violence,” which had prompted the security agency to raise the threat level.

“Unfortunately, the security environment has evolved almost exactly as we expected,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Peter Dutton once again attacked Anthony Albanese for not acting faster to control the “entirely predictable” rise of anti-Semitism.

The Opposition Leader said the caravan could have led to the “most significant terrorist attack and loss of life in our country’s history”.

Peter Dutton, who attended a Holocaust Memorial in Perth alongside the Prime Minister on Monday morning, has taken aim at the PM over the latest anti-Semitic plot. Picture: Pool / NewsWire / Kelsey Reid

“Should we act surprised that this has escalated to an attempted terrorist attack? No, we shouldn’t,” Mr Dutton said.

“The Prime Minister needs to show national leadership to deal with a national crisis and so far there’s been no sign of it.”

Mr Dutton labelled the rise in anti-Semitism a “national disgrace”.

“This is a deeply serious matter and that it has not gone away is an issue for our country,” he said.

“We still see overnight attacks on Jewish homes and when you have Holocaust survivors who have lived in our country since 1945 who are now saying they feel unsafe in our country, it is a national disgrace.”

Officers located a caravan that contained enough explosives to create a 40m blast radius. Picture: NewsWire/ Damian Shaw

The Prime Minister said he had been briefed on the caravan incident at Dural in northwestern Sydney, but wouldn’t detail when those meetings occurred.

Mr Albanese repeatedly said he would not discuss “operational matters,” he confirmed he had a full meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday morning.

“It’s important that politicians don’t try to score points in order to, if it, undermines those very investigations. And this is ongoing,” he said.

Mr Albanese also wouldn’t disclose whether the incident had been discussed at a national cabinet meeting in anti-Semitism on January 21, following the firebombing of a childcare centre in Maroubra, Sydney.

He added that there was a “zero tolerance in Australia for hatred and for anti-Semitism and I want any perpetrators to be hunted down and locked up”.

“It’s as simple as that,” he said.

The Coalition’s home affairs spokesman James Paterson said there was “no good operational reason” for Mr Albanese not to share when he was briefed and what he did following.

“What measures did he put in place to reassure the community? What action did he take to protect the community? Was the National Security Committee or cabinet convened?” he said.

“That’s the premier decision making body for counter-terrorism and law enforcement and national security in our country. And if he didn’t convene it, then we have a problem.”

Originally published as ASIO boss Mike Burgess says change in terror threat level unlikely after caravan bomb discovery