Australia stands with France in terror fight: PM

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he's talked with police and ASIO following the Paris attacks but there is no need to increase the terror alert.

Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull

PM Malcolm Turnbull says there is no need to increase the terror alert following the Paris attacks. (AAP)

Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of France and with all free people in the battle against terrorism, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

Mr Turnbull said the attacks, in which gunmen attacked multiple targets in Paris and killed as many as 120 people, bore all the hallmarks of terror group Daesh, also known as Islamic State.



Speaking from Berlin, he said he had spoken with Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) who did not believe an increase in Australian's terror threat alert level was justified at this stage.

Mr Turnbull extended Australia's deep sympathies to the people of France and said the thoughts and prayers of the nation were with them.

"But our solidarity is with them too," he said.

"When the French people left the stadium after that shocking attack they were not cowered. They sang their national anthem proudly and that is how all free people should respond to these assaults."

Mr Turnbull said freedom stood up for itself and its values in the face of terrorism.
'A threat in the name of God, but (it) is truthfully the work of the devil'
"In France and Australia, all around the world, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of France and with all free peoples in the battle against terrorism," he said.

Mr Turnbull said protecting freedom involved a global battle against those who sought to assert religious tyranny.

"A threat in the name of God, but (it) is truthfully the work of the devil," he said.

So far no Australians have been reported killed or injured in the attacks, though a large number, likely several thousand were in Paris at the time.
Mr Turnbull said Australians should be reassured that security agencies don't believe there's any evidence of an impending terror attack in Australia to justify increasing the alert level which has stood at high since September last year.

Australian security agencies were working with security agencies in other countries including France, he said.

He said he had been getting advice all night and had spoken to Australia's ambassador to France Stephen Brady.

"Australians should be reassured, that we have the finest security agencies in the world. We have a government that is utterly committed to protecting the safety of Australians at home and so far as we can abroad," he said.


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Source: AAP


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