The Islamic State has urged its supporters to go out and kill Western civilians, including Australians, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned the nation would have to sacrifice freedoms for security against terrorism in what he called these “darkening times”.
In a chilling message posted online, the terrorist group called for indiscriminate violence by any means in countries preparing to go to war against its fighters in northern Iraq and Syria.
“Australians will have to endure more security than we’re used to”: Tony Abbott addresses Parliament on the terrorist threat on Monday.
Photo: Andrew Meares
The statement, attributed to chief Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al Adnani, mentions Australia three times in 11 pages of apocalyptic threats against “crusaders”.
“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way however it may be,” he said.
“Do not ask for anyone’s advice and do not seek anyone’s verdict. Kill the disbeliever, whether he is civilian or military, for they have the same ruling. Both of them are disbelievers.”
Abu Muhammad al Adnani, ISIL’s chief spokesman.
Clearly calling for followers to martyr themselves, Adnani says that if IS supporters cannot obtain a bomb or a gun to kill a Westerner, they should “smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him or poison him”.
Adnani is a top figure in the militant group, having served as offical spokesman and senior leader since it rose to prominence last year.
His exhortation comes just days after police smashed an alleged plot in Sydney to kill random Australians on camera and as world leaders prepare to meet in New York to discuss how to combat the problem of foreigners travelling to Iraq and Syria to fight.
Mr Abbott, who will fly to New York on Tuesday for the United Nations sumitt, made a special address to Parliament on national security and warned the “delicate balance” between freedom and security would have to be recast.
“Regrettably, for some time to come, Australians will have to endure more security than we’re used to, and more inconvenience than we’d like,” he said.
“The delicate balance between freedom and security may have to shift. There may be more restrictions on some so that there can be more protections for others. After all, the most basic freedom of all is the freedom to walk the streets unharmed and to sleep safe in our beds at night.”
Mr Abbott welcomed Labor standing “shoulder to shoulder” with the Coalition on the terrorism threat, saying “it lets our enemies know that they will never shake our resolve”.
But Islamic State appears determined to test that resolve. Its threat against Australians is the most concrete yet.
Adnani’s statement is troubling as it tells followers they need no further approval of a Muslim cleric or from within the hierarchy of the Islamic State.
This is distinct from the approach of al-Qaeda, whose late leader Osama bin Laden maintained a tight, centralised control over violent activities. It also differs from the protocol of some previous plots in Australia, such as the plan to attack Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, which was thwarted while the plotters were awaiting the sanction of a cleric.
Adnani calls US President Barack Obama a “mule of the Jews” and US Secretary of State John Kerry an “uncircumcised old geezer”.
The statement threatens not just to beat back any military campaign in Iraq and Syrian but also to go on the offensive, even if it takes generations.
“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah, the Exalted,” it says. “If we do not reach that time, then our children and grandchildren will reach it, and they will sell your sons as slaves at the slave market.”
A spokewoman for Mr Abbott said counter-terrorism agencies considered the statement to be authentic.
“Australian agencies regard the statement issued today by ISIL calling for attacks against members of the international coalition, including Australians, as genuine,” she said.
“ISIL will claim that our involvement in this international effort is the reason they are targeting us, but these people do not attack us for what we do, but for who we are and how we live.”
Former British Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave his backing to President Barack Obama’s strategy to overwhelm IS with military force.
“The president is absolutely right to take on [ISIL] and to build the broadest possible coalition,” he said.
“We’ve got absolutely no choice but to do this, and not just in order to destroy the onward march of [ISIL] but to send a very strong signal to the other terrorist groups operating in the region. We intend to take action and see it through.”
In his address in reply, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten laid out why Labor backs war against IS.
“Labor recognises that sometimes there is simply no alternative,” Mr Shorten said. “Put plainly, we cannot negotiate with ISIL because there is nothing rational about what they seek to do. ISIL and their like wish only to do harm, to spread the bitter hatred that fuels their genocidal intent.”
Mr Shorten said he rejected the charge that Australia’s engagement in Iraq had made the country more of a target for terrorists.
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