CANBERRA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's terror threat level will remain at "probable," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday, despite Britain raising its threat level from "severe" to "critical" following the terrorist bombing which occurred in Manchester on Monday evening.
Turnbull held high-level security briefings in the wake of the Manchester bombing which killed at least 22 people and injured dozens who were attending a concert in the Britain's third largest city, but speaking to the press on Wednesday, the prime minister said Australia's threat level would remain the same despite Britain raising its threat level to its highest possible ranking.
"The threat level in Australia should remain where it is at 'probably', and that the events in Britain do not, at this stage, indicate any heightening of the level in Australia," Turnbull said at a press conference.
"But the threat level is at probably. It is effectively at the same level as the UK before the attack. They've increased it by one level, and they did that because they believe that the terrorist was not acting alone.
"Until the conspirators are identified and the network is uncovered, there is the risk of further attacks. That's why, in some respects, you can say that the attack is not yet over (in the UK)."
The prime minister said he has made contact with his British counterpart Theresa May to express Australia's condolences to, and reiterate Australia's solidarity to the people of Britain and those affected by the terror attack.
"I've expressed our condolences to the people of Britain and the victims and their families of this shocking criminal attack in Manchester," Turnbull said.
"I also conveyed to (Theresa May) our resolute solidarity. Now and forever as always, Australians and Britons stand shoulder-to-shoulder in freedom's cause - standing up to destroy the terrorists which seek to undermine our way of life."
Earlier, Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) the security level at Australian events and in public places was "constantly" under review, with the priority being to keep citizens and visitors as safe as possible.
"You'll see heightened police presences, more obstacles, bollard, barriers put in the way to prevent vehicle-borne attacks," Turnbull said.
"I mean this was something that I started work on immediately after the Nice attack when it became obvious that vehicles were likely to be used as an attack by terrorists ... this is a constantly evolving, it's a dynamic environment."
As a result of Britain's decision to raise its terror threat level, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has announced that it has raised its travel advice warning level for Britain from "exercise normal safety precautions" to "exercise a high degree of caution."
"In light of the UK's increase to its threat level, we now advise (travelers to) exercise a high degree of caution in the United Kingdom," a statement from the department said.
Also on Wednesday, Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that no Australians were caught up in the tragic event, but admitted the targeting of children was a harsh new reality for governments around the world.
"I am able to say that no Australians have been identified as being involved, but our hearts go out to the people of Manchester, the people of Britain and to all of those who have been affected by this tragedy," Bishop told Sky News.
"It's such a cowardly, callous attack to target young concertgoers. Children as young as eight years old were there.
"Now when you see terrorists targeting children at a public event like a concert, it's a new level of ugly brutality, and that's what we, as governments, must deal with."
Meanwhile Professor Greg Barton, terrorism expert from Deakin University, said while police have been able to crack down on the use of apps and messaging, it was now much easier for terrorists to hide their communications.
He said the reason Britain had raised its terror threat level was because it was thought that the bomber was not acting alone, and that co-conspirators were using face-to-face meetings and handwritten messages to communicate under the noses of the authorities.
"We think in November 2015 in Paris, that the terrorists went dark and 'off the grid'. They basically met face-to-face, and passed handwritten notes - the old Mafia technique," he told Sky News on Wednesday.
"One of the questions now is how this bomber was communicating. It's quite possible they skipped digital communications to avoid being detected."
