ASIO won’t rule out Iran targeting Jewish leaders

Australia’s domestic spy chief has revealed he would not rule out Iran attempting to assassinate prominent Jewish Australians and said his agency has already warned a number of community leaders about the danger.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess made the comments during a rare, wide-ranging interview with veteran broadcaster Neil Mitchell on the Mitchell Unlimited podcast, published last week.

“I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Iran would want to kill prominent Jewish Australians,” Burgess said.

Asked directly whether a foreign country might want to enter Australia to kill Jewish leaders, Burgess replied: “Yes, that is a possibility.”

The ASIO chief stressed there was no specific plot currently under investigation.