Despite politicians previously claiming otherwise, Australia does not have a current active ‘terror watch’ list.
The disturbing development follows last Friday’s frenized attack in Melbourne, during which a terrorist who was once allegedly on the national watch list killed a beloved business owner.
According to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s (ASIO), the supposed list does not exist – and never has.
Instead, individuals deemed a potential threat to national security are monitored by ASIO or the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, part of the agency that works with state and Federal Police.
Police pay their respect outside Pellegrini’s on Bourke St in Melbourne’s CBD
Terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali (pictured right) was known to ASIO officials before his attack last Friday in Melbourne
Hassan Khalif Shire Ali (pictured), who carried out the lone attack on Friday afternoon on Bourke St which shocked the nation, was known to ASIO officials.
In 2015, his passport was revoked, amid fears he was planning to fly to Syria to fight for Islamic State.
It’s understood ASIO was tracking his movements due to his behaviour and links with terror suspects but wasn’t under constant physical or electronic surveillance on Friday when he carried out the deadly attack, the Herald Sun reported.
Peter Dutton, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, dismissed speculation Ali had direct links to Islamic State.
‘In relation to his connections (with Islamic State) or with any terrorist group … there’s not, as I’m advised, a membership of an organisation or a definite link,’ he said.
‘The working theory is at the moment a case where this person (Ali) had been downloading information or receiving messages in his own mind about what he should be doing. It’s inspired, as opposed to affiliation or membership.’
Mr Dutton also conceded it was impossible to stop all terrorist attacks in Australia, before going on to defend ASIO – who failed to classify Ali as a high-risk terror threat.
‘These are very difficult circumstances to stop,’ he said.
‘Yes, (Ali) was referred to by ASIO and other agencies before.’
‘But police did not have intelligence in relation to this person that he was about to commit such an act.’
Terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali (pictured left) who was eventually shot dead by police
Dutton also revealed 14 terror attacks had been prevented, but seven had resulted in serious adverse results, including Sydney’s Lindt Cafe siege in 2014 which saw two hostages killed.
Victoria’s Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton says hundreds of radicalised potential terrorists who aren’t being monitored at all times have the potential to carry out a atrocity similar to the Bourke St tragedy.
He told the Herald Sun counter-terrorism agencies need thousands more officers to physically watch every suspect, with terrorist numbers seemingly always on the rise.