The Latest Breaking News from Asio

Australia’s spy agency finds Iran behind incidents including arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne

The Australian government has cut diplomatic ties with Tehran and expelled its ambassador amid accusations the country organised two antisemitic attacks.

In a joint press conference, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Iran orchestrated two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil: the October 2024 attack on Sydney’s Lewis Continental Kitchen and the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024.

Australia’s national security service has determined the Iranian government directed at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia – on Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney, and the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne.

The Iranian ambassador to Australia has now been expelled and Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran.

Vulnerable young Australians are being targeted and recruited into extremist organisations. Sometimes, adult recruiters use grooming and coercion. Young people are seen as easy targets because they are looking for a place to belong, rather than holding deep-seated ideological beliefs.

The legal definition of what is considered terrorism is being examined by an independent watchdog nearly 25 years after September 11 and the Bali bombings.

A Chinese woman has appeared in the ACT magistrates court on Monday accused of foreign interference, by allegedly covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association.

A Chinese woman accused of gathering intelligence for China's main police agency is the first to be charged for allegedly targeting the Australian community.

Australian Director-General of Security warns spies they are at risk of attack if they advertise themselves too much online.

Espionage cost Australia $12.5 billion in 2023-24, according to a study by ASIO and the Australian Institute of Criminology.