SYDNEY, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian State of Victoria released their 2018-2021 Counter Terrorism Strategy on Wednesday, which includes using surveillance drones to monitor large crowds.
Officers will also undertake online training to enable them to better identify those at risk of radicalization.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther said, "The threat of terrorism can come from multiple sources and be inspired by a range of ideological or political causes -- we need to be able to manage these threats, regardless of source or motivation."
Drones will be used to monitor crowds at events such as the upcoming Australian Football League Grand Final, helping police to identify threats among stadium-sized masses of people.
"We also utilize similar technologies across a national spectrum," Guenther said. "These are not new technologies, they've been around some time."
Victorian police have made a number of arrests in recent years which they allege derailed planned terrorist actions, including attacks with explosives in the state capital of Melbourne.
Two incidents in 2017 which involved vehicles being used to mow down pedestrians have been deemed to be a result of mental illness rather than terrorism related.
Most recently police confirmed that they received reports of a plan to stage a terror attack at Melbourne's Queen City Markets, however officials said the impetus for the attacks came from overseas and never presented a credible threat.
The new strategy will place importance on early intervention, with police teaming up with mental health experts to manage potential threats before they progress from radicalization to violence.
"Prevention is far better than cure and we're committed to stopping people from seeking to engage in terrorist behavior," Guenther said.
