Sydney has had two knife attacks in three days, one declared a "terrorist act" and the other not, why?
A 16-year-old boy was detained after an alleged knife attack at Christ of the Good Shepherd's Church in Wakeley, west Sydney, on Monday night. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a live sermon. NSW Police said the attack was being investigated as a "terrorist incident".
So how is this incident different from last Saturday's attack at Westfield Shopping Centre at Sydney's Bondi hub, when a 40-year-old suspect was shot dead by a police officer after a knife attack that killed six people, including a Chinese student, and injured many others.
How is a terrorist act defined?
Emily Corner, an associate professor at the Australian National University's Centre for Social Policy Research, said there was a legal definition of terrorism that was used to charge and prosecute people under terrorism legislation.
Federal law defines terrorism as an act or threat intended to "promote political, ideological or religious reasons" and "coerce or intimidate the Government or the public of Australia or a foreign country".
An act falls within this definition if it "causes serious bodily injury to an individual or serious damage to property, causes death or endangers the life of an individual, poses a serious threat to public health and safety, or seriously interferes with, disrupts or disrupts an electronic information, telecommunications or financial system".
On Tuesday, in response to a question about the two incidents, Mike Burgess, director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, told reporters: "To simply put it and call it an act of terror, you need to have indications that there is information or evidence that the motive is actually religious or ideological." ”
"In this case, the information that we and the police have shows that this is indeed the case, which is why it is called a terrorist act. ”
Police are investigating the knife attack at the Bondi Hub shopping centre to see if the attacker,, was motivated by hatred of women, who "clearly" targeted in the attack.
Also on Tuesday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said remarks made by teenagers arrested following a knife attack at a church that showed the attack was religiously motivated.
"We will accuse (him) of entering the church with a knife and stabbing the bishop and the priest, and others with injuries," she said. ”
"We believe that there are a number of factors that have been met in terms of the motives of religious extremism, and of course the aspect of intimidation of the public through the actions of this person. ”
"By attending the events of that church, and at the same time broadcasting it live, it intimidated not only the parishioners who were present, but also those who watched it online, and subsequently those who went to the church. ”
Burgess noted that after the incident, Australia's terrorist threat level remained unchanged and is currently "probable".
What is the difference between "terrorist acts" and "terrorism"?
In short, there is a difference.
Terrorism is an umbrella term that refers to terrorist allegations, while "terrorist acts" are specific illegal acts.
Kona said that even if no violent act was committed, a person can be convicted for the act.
"You may be arrested for preparing a terrorist attack, you may be convicted of financing other terrorist criminals. Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, it is even possible to be convicted of searching for terrorist content online. ”
Kona noted that the public and researchers' understanding of terrorism may differ from the law.
"Traditionally, when we think of terrorism, it's about creating fear in people as a way to create some form of change," she said. ”
Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, Australia's counter-terrorism laws have been significantly strengthened and expanded.
Unlike other Australian jurisdictions, the Northern Territory provides for specific terrorist offences rather than a general definition of "terrorist acts".
Police powers and terror
When an incident is declared a "terrorist incident", the police may exercise special powers under NSW counter-terrorism laws.
These laws give the police special powers to take measures to prevent terrorist attacks from happening within the next 14 days, as well as to investigate terrorist attacks.
Police can stop and search people and vehicles without a warrant, require the disclosure of the identity of the person, enter and search houses and vehicles, or set up cordons such as roadblocks around the target area.