The threat to every Australian's safety
An extraordinary assessment has been made of the threat facing all Australians in the wake of the terrifying Paris terror attacks.
7 News has learned that 110 Australian citizens are overseas fighting for Islamic State and there are close to 200 active supporters here at home.
Macarthur Girls High School in Parramatta was evacuated yesterday, students took shelter in a park after a man with a middle eastern accent called in a bomb threat.
It was found to be a prank but police took it seriously.
Following the Paris atrocity police have confirmed a new policy: negotiating with armed extremists is out and deadly force is in.
Nick Kaldas, Deputy Police Commissioner, said: "In those cases, we would certainly have to look at it differently, we'd have to react differently, and we'd have to move almost immediately."
FBI instructors have been training our officers in weaponry and standard patrol cars will be strengthened.
Assistant Commissioner Kyle Stewart from NSW Police said: "There is a need for our staff to act in a way they've probably never acted before."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop added: "Well clearly these terrorists, these brutal terrorists do not negotiate."
110 Australians are now fighting for Islamic State in Syria or Iraq, 44 of those fighting have been killed there and 190 actively support terrorism at home.
ASIO now has 400 'high priority' cases twice as many as last year.
Michael Keenan, Justice Minister, said: "None of us are in this fight alone."
At an international terrorism financing summit in Sydney, co-hosted by Indonesia a minute's silence for France and an acknowledgement of the $53 million that was sent from Australia in the past year to finance terrorism overseas.
