Australia on 'high' alert for terror acts

Australia on Friday raised its terror threat level to "high" for the first time ever, citing the likelihood of terrorist attacks by Australian citizens radicalized in Iraq or Syria, despite stressing it had no knowledge of a specific attack plan.

Australia is concerned about the number of its citizens believed to be fighting overseas with Islamist militant groups, including a suicide bomber who killed three people in Baghdad in July and two men shown in images on social media holding the severed heads of Syrian soldiers.

David Irvine, director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, noted the prospect of raising the threat level on Tuesday, citing the growing risk posed by the returning fighters.