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Aussies abroad should form terror "exit plans" while overseas: Aust'n FM

Xinhua, December 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australia's Foreign Minister has on Wednesday advised Australians who travel overseas during the busy festive season to have a terror "exit plan" if they decide to attend busy public gatherings such as Christmas markets.

Following Monday's deadly Berlin truck attack, in which 12 people died after a truck slammed into a Christmas market, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said travelers need to be aware that places of mass gatherings are often a target for extremists.

She told the Nine Network on Wednesday that if Australians have plans to attend places of mass gathering over the course of the Christmas and New Year period, aside from taking "normal precautions" they should formulate an "exit plan" in case of an attack.

"We ask people to take care, to take the normal precautions, but if they are visiting places like a Christmas market, to ensure they have an exit plan worked out should there be a security incident of this type or worse," Bishop said.

The foreign minister also offered her condolences to the people of Germany, and said Australia stands in solidarity with the German government following the "terrifying" attack.

"It's a shocking incident and it must have been terrifying to have been present at the time of this attack. It certainly has all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, although the German authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind the incident," Bishop said.

"We stand with the German people and government in the fight against terrorism, particularly where civilians are targeted. But the motive behind this is still not yet confirmed."

The foreign minister also said Australia's official home terror alert level remains at "probable" but she ensured Australians that counter-terror and law enforcement agencies were "doing all they can" to prevent an attack on Australian soil.

"I can assure the Australian people we are doing all we can to give our security, law enforcement intelligence agencies the resources they need, but no government can give a guarantee," Bishop told the Nine Network.

"We have thwarted about 11 attempted terror attacks in the past two-and-a-half years, but you can't guarantee such an event won't occur.

"All we do in ensure police have all the resources and power they need to act in the interest of Australians and try to keep up as safe as possible." Endit