CANBERRA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday joined a chorus of world leaders offering their sympathies to Britain following a brazen terror attack at Westminster in London overnight.
Five people were killed and at least 20 others were injured after a man attempting to storm the Houses of Parliament crashed a car into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge before getting out and stabbing a police officer to death.
Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the attack on the British parliament as "an attack on parliaments, freedom and democracy everywhere".
"Westminster is rightly known as the mother of parliaments," Turnbull said. "Almost every element of our parliamentary tradition, here in Australia, is modeled on that of the Houses of Parliament in London."
"We send our condolences, especially to the families of the victims, those injured, including a police officer murdered by the terrorist."
Turnbull also took the opportunity to update Australians on the local terror threat level, and announced there would be an "increased" police presence at the Parliament House in Canberra in the wake of the attack in London.
"The (Australian) terror threat level is set at probable but we will never, ever let the terrorists win," he said.
"There would be an increased police presence in Parliament House today. Australians should be reassured that our agencies are today, as every day, working relentlessly to keep Australians safe."
"We are very alert to the vulnerabilities of places of mass gathering and the risk of lone attackers, like the terrorist in London. Keeping Australians safe is our highest priority. It is the first duty of my government."
In addition, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that no Australians were hurt or killed in the attack. speaking to the press, she said it was likely the attack was inspired by Islamic State (IS).
"I can assure Australians that to this point no Australians have been identified as being involved," Bishop said on Wednesday.
"I have spoken to (British) Foreign Secretary Boris Johnston and passed on our concerns and condolences (and) I made contact with the Australian High Commissioner in London."
"It has had hallmarks of the recent IS-inspired terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere but it is too early to make a conclusion on that point."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also offered his condolences, describing the attack as "horrifying".
"Australians should be reassured despite the political domestic debates in Australia, all of us are united in our hatred and opposition of terrorism and the terrorists should know wherever they are, they will never divide this country. Our sympathies are with the United Kingdom and the English," Shorten said.
Meanwhile Justice Minister Michael Keenan told Sky News that the Australia's authorities were among the most well-equipped in the world to deal with terror threats, and that the local terror threat will remain at "probable".
"That doesn't mean there's a change to the terror threat level here, it's just a normal precautionary measure that we will take after an attack of this size," he told Sky News.
"We've radically changed the way we police this threat. We've been more successful than any other country in terms of the laws we've changed, the resources and abilities given to our agencies to address these threats."
