Australia has raised the terror threat level to "possible", citing the rise of "extremist ideologies" after a series of deadly attacks in the country.

Mike Burgess, Director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), said that "the security environment in Australia is deteriorating and becoming more volatile and unpredictable."

He added that "more Australians are turning to extremism," noting that the country is facing "surges in political polarization."

He continued that there is no evidence of the possibility of an "imminent attack," but according to "ASIO" the threats over the next 12 months are increasing.

Burgess said: "Politically motivated violence is now added to espionage and foreign interference as one of our main security concerns."

Australia has witnessed an increase in knife attacks in recent months. In April, 6 people were killed in a shopping mall in Sydney. Two days later, a bishop from an Assyrian church was stabbed. In May, a mentally ill person injured a person in a knife attack.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency