Truck drivers are being warned to take extra safety precautions as experts claim terrorists may turn to simple weapons to inflict harm on Australians.
In a report released Sunday, the Australian Government has warned people to prepare for possible truck and chemical warfare attacks on the country’s soil that could cause ‘maximum casualties’.
Truck drivers are being warned to ‘screen and search’ their trucks if they leave them unattended and to report any suspicious activity with fears Islamic State fighters could hijack trucks to use in terrorist attacks.
Truck drivers are being warned to take extra safety precautions three days after a terrorist attack on Barcelona (pictured)
A van was ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians on Thursday (pictured) happening days before the Australian Government release a new terrorism plan
Experts warn terrorists may turn to simple weapons, like cars, to inflict harm on Australian soil
At least 16 people died after the van ran over a Barcelona crowd creating devastating affects
The report, Australia’s Strategy for Protecting Crowded Places from Terrorism, said basic weapons including cars, trucks, knives and firearms could be used by terrorists with ‘devastating effects’.
‘Terrorist attack planning in Australia will probably continue to involved weapons and tactics that are low-cost and low-capability,’ the report said.
‘Basic weapons (including knives and vehicles) … and explosives could all be used in any attack.’
Trucks and explosive devices are a threat to crowded areas including shopping centres and pedestrian malls, the report highlighted which was released three days after the recent terrorist attack at Barcelona, Spain, leaving 16 dead and at least 100 injured when a van ran down pedestrians.
The need for bollards to line the streets to protect pedestrians from rogue vehicles was also highlighted in the document.
140 concrete bollards have been installed throughout Melbourne CBD five months after a car was allegedly driven into the crowds at popular Bourke Street Mall, killing six people.
Vehicles, like the one used in the Barcelona attack (pictured), are a low-cost weapon for Islamic State inspired terrorists
A recent report warns terrorists will take to using trucks and chemical weapons in Australia
‘Basic weapons (including knives and vehicles) … and explosives could all be used in any attack,’ the report said (Barcelona attack victims pictured)
Truck and chemical warfare attacks on the country’s soil could cause ‘maximum casualties’ with crowds being targeted
20 concrete barriers have also been installed in Sydney’s Martin Place.
‘Terrorists have plotted similar attacks here, including on crowded places, and we expect more will occur,’ the report said.
In London three terrorists drove a van from the road and into a busy crowd on London Bridge killing 11 people in June 2017.
Use of bollards is being encouraged to protect pedestrians from possible rouge vehicles
The report comes almost a month after the Australian Federal Police soiled a terror plot in Sydney (pictured)
The Nice, France, terrorist attack saw a terrorist plough into a crowd with a rented cargo truck, killing 86 people in July 2016.
In Berlin, a Pakistan refugee terrorist hijacked a commercial semi-trailer and drove through a Christmas Market killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 40 in December 2016.
More recently, the Australian Federal Police foiled a terrorist plot which could have seen a chemical explosive device bring down a plane at Sydney Airport.