Be vigilant: Christmas terror threat warning

Labor MP Anthony Byrne has warned Australians to be vigilant to terrorism threats over Christmas.

Labor MP Anthony Byrne. Picture: AAP

Labor MP Anthony Byrne, the deputy chair of the parliamentary intelligence committee, has warned Australians to be vigilant to terrorism threats over Christmas as he declared that children as young as 14 were being radicalised online.

Warning against complacency to the terror threat, Mr Byrne said “our agencies believe that there are those even now in our country who wish to do us harm”.

“And the intended perpetrators of attacks driven by these twisted evil ideologies know that the Christmas/New Year period is a special time of year and so they would see that an attack would be damaging for morale at this time,” Mr Byrne said in a speech to parliament.

“We must all remain vigilant and aware without being alarmed, fortified by the knowledge that our security and intelligence agencies are working around the clock to keep us safe.

“Together in this most challenging year we have seen off the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we will also meet and defeat those who seek to scare and divide us with their hateful ideologies.”

Mr Byrne said he had been told the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was seeing teenagers radicalised online.

“At the same time, ASIO has told us that the threat from right-wing extremism is growing and now comprises between 30 to 40 per cent of ASIO’s caseload,” Mr Byrne said.

“There have been multiple arrests, convictions, and disruptions this year alone. But we cannot be complacent. The terrorism threat level is at probable, which means a terrorist event is likely.

“That means that our agencies believe that there are those even now in our country who wish to do us harm.”

Mr Byrne said Melbourne experienced its eighth terror attack last month and it “virtually went unnoticed”.

“Momema Shoma, who was already serving a lengthy prison term for terrorism, allegedly attacked another female inmate,” Mr Byrne said.

“And recently, a man in Queensland was arrested and charged with one count of acts done in preparation or planning of a terrorist act.”