By Matt Walsh
CANBERRA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's counter-terror organizations must realize that children and places of mass gathering are becoming the target for modern terrorists, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull warned on Friday.
The warning came after the terror attack in Britain's Manchester which targeted youngsters attending a pop concert.
In the fallout to the "despicable" attack, which left at least 22 people dead and 59 others injured, Turnbull said he had met with his counter terror coordinator and the federal police commissioner so counter-terror bodies become more "alert" and "agile" in response to potential terror risks.
Speaking to Macquarie Radio, the prime minister said schools, sporting events and concerts were no longer off limits for terrorists, and that Australia's security organizations would review their processes to ensure Australians remain safe.
"We should not underestimate the length to which these killers will go," Turnbull said.
"They are utterly without any moral compass at all. These are the most cruel, cynical and cowardly killers. They are despicable and reprehensible."
"What we need to do is be alert. We need to be alert to risks at all so and do so in a very agile and dynamic manner. Seconds ago, I was talking to my counter terrorism coordinator and the federal police commissioner about protection for places of mass gatherings.
"We need to be responding dynamically to these threats. I assure everyone that this is the highest priority and we have very good -- the best in the world -- police and intelligence services."
Turnbull said while Australia's terror threat level would remain at "probable" -- the level it has been since 2014 -- authorities would step up security measures, making it tougher for terrorists to access "places of mass gathering."
"We are constantly improving (security measures). The shocking assault on teenagers in Manchester did not surprise us. We recognize the extent to which these criminals will go and we are constantly upgrading and refining our responses."
"What this killer did in Manchester is he entered the crowd as it was leaving, apparently with a suitcase containing a sophisticated device," the prime minister said.
"We have to recognize that these people will stop at nothing. But equally, we need to be committed to going about our lives. We have the best police in the world. While we cannot guarantee that they will thwart every plot, they have been very successful (so far)."
Meanwhile, speaking at a Senate estimates committee overnight, Duncan Lewis, chief of Australia's intelligence agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), said the "threat of a terrorist attack against Australians and Australian interests" would only continue.
"This is not the end, it's not the beginning of the end, it's more like the end of the beginning. We don't see this finishing any time soon," Lewis said.
"Attacks such as this targeting some of society's most innocent cause my officers at all levels, both here in Australia and overseas, to redouble their focus and effort to counter this menacing threat."
Lewis said despite the latest attack, he has advised the government that the nation's terror threat level should remain at "probable", where is has been "since September 2014."
He added that one of the main threats facing Australia -- aside from "home grown" terrorists -- is the return of Australian foreign fighters from the Middle East war zone.
"We are particularly concerned about the return of foreign fighters to our region, and it's not just Islamic State (IS) that is of concern, but affiliates and sympathisers who will outlive this group," Lewis said on Thursday night.
There are around 200 people in Australia being investigated for providing support to individuals or groups involved in the Syria, Iraq conflicts, including through funding and facilitation or seeking to travel there, he said.
"(And) at least 64 and possibly as many as 76 Australians have been killed because of their involvement in the conflict, and as these figures indicate, Australians fighting and seeking to go offshore in Syria and Iraq remain a cornerstone of ASIO's priority work."
