Australia’s terrorism threat level downgraded to ‘possible’ after eight years as ‘probable’

Asio director general Mike Burgess says the level has been dropped to ‘possible’, meaning Australia is a possible target, but there is a limited intent or capability from groups like Isil to contact an attack. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Australia’s terrorism threat level has changed to “possible” after eight years as “probable”, with security authorities saying the risk of a terror attack has reduced.

The head of intelligence agency Asio, Mike Burgess, said the decision was “not taken lightly” but said there were now “fewer extremists with the intention to conduct an attack onshore than there were when we raised the threat level in 2014”.