Security Tightened at Parliament House after ‘Confirmed’ Potential Terror Attack

The security at the Parliament House in Canberra was tightened by the Australian Federal Police after there had been a potential terror attack reported.

Security was weakened at the Parliament only four months ago. However, it has further been upgraded as a fresh system is introduced, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Journalists who frequent the building have apparently been screened. Visiting departmental or political staff, on the other hand, was not screened. Additional federal police were visible around the building this week.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier said that there was a "certain" potential threat to the Parliament House. He said that the threat had been confirmed by intelligence agencies. There was reported "chatter" from suspects who were allegedly "targeting government people." The reported information was the reason why the security arrangements at the Parliament House had been tightened, he said.

News.com.au quoted Treasurer Joe Hockey saying that he was not worried about the security arrangements at the G20 conference in Australia. He said that it was "great comfort" that the Australian authorities had been able to find out about the terror plots. "We've increased the resources available to our security agencies. We cannot let the behaviour of potential terrorists change our everyday behaviour," Hockey said.

Australian police have been concerned that young Muslims in the country may have been targeted for being involved in radical activities. Radio New Zealand reported that the Islamic State had been planning for a "violent plot" in Australia. A man, arrested in Sydney, was accused of planning a random beheading. According to prosecutors, there were plans to terrify and shock the people in Australia.

There were 15 people arrested in a massive raid performed by 800 policemen in Brisbane and Sydney on Thursday. It is 22-year-old Omarjan Azari who is allegedly to be the "ringleader" of the group, according to Andrew Colvin - the Acting Federal Police Commissioner of Australia. Colvin said that the particular concern was the investigation against the younger people allegedly involved in terror plans.

Senior Islamic figure in Australia, Mohammed Ali Baryalei, may be the prime suspect for being the main connection between the Islamic State and potential terror activities in Australia, according to speculations.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au