Image Source: Wikimedia

BY JIAXI LU
 

You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy. 

Is it a warning?
The latest issue of al-Qaeda’s online magazine -- called Inspire -- has one of the world’s most iconic building’s on its cover.
And it has Australian officials -- concerned.  Here’s Sky News.

“Wales's development of counter-terrorism officials, with the picture of the Sydney Opera House featuring prominently in an online maganize linked to al-Qaeda. The image appeared in the English language edition of Inspire which promotes terrorism and offer articles on bomb-making. A leading al-Qaeda expert said it’s unclear whether the picture is meant to encourage an attack on Sydney.”

Fox News says concerns are raised about the influence of Opera House on the local Islamic community.

“Investigators say they're not sure what the significance of the opera house is, but they are keeping close eyes on the situation. Australia's terror alert level will remain at medium, which means the attack could occur.”

The picture, along with bomb-making instructions, appeared in the magazine's "Open Source Jihad" section. Opera House is used as the pictorial example, but there were no specific mention of any building on Sydney Harbour in the text.

The Australian reports, ASIO, Australia's domestic spy agency, has tried to block Internet access to the magazine sites. Authorities moved to play down any threat and said no specific information suggested any site in Australia had been targeted. Attorney-General Robert McClelland said in a statement,

McClelland – “In the modern age of global electronic communications, the reality is this material will emerge on overseas sites... I have been advised this publication does not represent any change to the extent of the terrorist threat within Australia, and I am advised it has not been accompanied by any specific threat in Australia or to Australian citizens.”

But Peter Dein, New South Wales's counter-terrorism commander, said it’s hard to interpret what message the magazine might be sending since there was no text in the magazine relating to the Opera House.

“It could simply be the fact that it’s an icon that is well known around the Western world and may not really have any relevance that it is in Sydney... What we are concerned about is the influences this particular magazine can have on vulnerable people in our community who are likely to be influenced by this extremist rhetoric.” (The Telegraph)

Inspire in the past had used pictures of prominent buildings in the US and around the world to illustrate its sections.  Australia NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says this is an important wake-up call for Australia.

“Whilst the level of threat hasn't changed we should never become complacent when it comes to preventing acts of terrorism - so it is a really important wake up call for us all. If you thought the terrorism risk had diminished and gone away then you are wrong.” (Nine MSN Australia)

Transcript by Newsy.