Australia raises terror threat level to 'high' for police

CANBERRA - Australia's main domestic security agency has raised the terrorist threat level against police from "medium" to "high" on Tuesday in response to recent international attacks targeting officers.

Australian Federal Police said the threat against police as assessed by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization is now equivalent to the threat to the wider Australian community which was lifted to "high" in September last year. "High" is the second highest level on a scale of four.

The police statement said an increasing number of Australians have been inspired by groups such as Islamic State "with the intent and capability to conduct an attack against police."

Queensland state Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said there was no single event that led to the raised alert.