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Australia's national terrorism threat level has been raised from "possible" to "probable" by ASIO. This change is due to an increased risk of ideological terrorism and politically motivated violence, as more Australians are embracing extremist ideologies. The threat level is determined by credible intelligence indicating the intent and capability for a terrorist attack. Public awareness of the threat level is important for fostering preparedness and resilience, but it should not lead to excessive anxiety. Community involvement, including reporting suspicious activities and participating in safety initiatives, plays a crucial role in preventing terrorist attacks. It is essential to communicate security updates in a way that builds trust and avoids stigmatizing specific population groups. [Extracted from the article]

The upcoming Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games have raised concerns about the potential for a terrorist attack. Islamic State has been escalating its calls to target sporting events in Europe, but it remains uncertain whether they would devote the necessary resources to carry out an attack on the Olympics. The Islamic State affiliate with the greatest propensity for transnational attacks is the Afghanistan-based Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP), but their focus is primarily on local regimes and regional powers. Additionally, the capabilities of IS-KP and the opportunities for an attack at the Olympics are unclear. While sporting events have been identified as potential targets by Islamist extremist propaganda, the extensive security measures implemented by Olympic hosts have significantly reduced the opportunities for attacks. However, it is difficult to predict what a terrorist group may perceive as an opportunity, and there is a possibility that other individuals or groups with limited capabilities could have harmful intentions during the Olympics. [Extracted from the article]