At least 12 on Australian terror watchlist – Checks on Syrian refugees could take a year

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SYDNEY, Nov 23, (Agencies): Australian officials said Monday they were aware of 12 men or boys in the community who they believe could commit an act of terror, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull convened a national security meeting. Canberra has become increasingly concerned about the prospect of lone-wolf attacks by individuals inspired by groups such as Islamic State, and a tightening of counter-terrorism laws is underway.

Six attacks in Australia have been foiled over the past year, according to the government. But several have not, including a police employee shot dead in Sydney last month by a 15-year-old reportedly shouting religious slogans. The Australian Federal Police’s counter-terrorism chief Neil Gaughan told ABC television that a group of 12 men or boys capable of committing an act of terror were being closely watched. “I think there can be no doubt that there’s a small group in Sydney that are engaged in activity which wants to upset the Australian way of life,” he said.

The national broadcaster said the 12 were part of a larger group of 19, seven of whom were in prison. Some of those under surveillance were subject to orders controlling their movements and communications because police believed there was an “unacceptable, high risk they will commit a terrorist attack”, Gaughan added. “Our first point of call in relation to these investigations is where there’s been a criminal offence committed we arrest, charge and prosecute,” he said. “If we don’t meet that threshold, the next step we look at is a control order.” The Australian government remained committed to resettling 12,000 Syrian refugees, but security checks could take more than a year, officials said Monday.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott announced in September that the 12,000 refugees would be resettled from Middle Eastern refugee camps as quickly as possible. Abbott was replaced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull less than a week later. The first families began arriving in Australia this month. Government lawmaker Cory Bernardi said Monday that Cabinet should rethink that commitment in light of the threat militants could pose as refugees in Australia.

He said the recent coordinated attacks in Paris had highlighted the dangers. But Cabinet ministers including Treasurer Scott Morrison and Counterterrorism Minister Michael Keenan stood by the decision. “These would have to be — arguably — the most screened group of people you could think of,” Morrison told Sydney radio 2GB. “Taking 12,000 people from Syria was the right thing to do several months ago and it’s still the right thing to do today,” Keenan told reporters. Peter Shergold, coordinator-general for refugee resettlement in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, said the careful screening would hold up the resettlement process

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