A leading terrorism expert says it's unlikely a similar incident to the vehicle attack in London last weekend would happen in Canberra.
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Clarke Jones, the co-director of the Australian Intervention Support Hub at ANU, said while an attack in Canberra would be "symbolic", the chances of a terrorism incident in the nation's capital were low.
![An AFP officer outside Parliament House. Photo: Andrew Meares An AFP officer outside Parliament House. Photo: Andrew Meares](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/afa6ebc2-8eeb-4d88-b10c-a7bb163ef349/r0_0_2000_1332_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"There is a low likelihood, but if it did happen, it would be extremely significant," Dr Jones said.
"There are large areas in Canberra that have a vulnerability, but Canberra is very multicultural and a good example of how multiculturalism works."
![Armed police officers patrol streets near the scene of the terror attack in London. Photo: Bloomberg Armed police officers patrol streets near the scene of the terror attack in London. Photo: Bloomberg](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/32fee46b-9792-47b4-a3a3-bf276ae31b38/r0_0_2000_1333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
During last Saturday's terrorist attack in London a white van drove over London Bridge, ploughing into pedestrians, before crashing outside a nearby pub.
Three men jumped out of the van carrying knives before running through the nearby Borough Markets stabbing people, before the attackers were shot dead by police.
A total of eight people died during the attack, including Australians Kirsty Boden and Sara Zelenak. Almost 50 people were injured.
Dr Jones said the increase of terrorist attacks where vehicles have been used to run down pedestrians, such as incidents last year in Nice and Berlin as well as the attack on Westminster Bridge in March, was due to the "phenomenon of copycats".
![Australian Sara Zelenak, who was killed in the London attack Photo: Facebook Australian Sara Zelenak, who was killed in the London attack Photo: Facebook](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/2efcedcf-f896-4606-a24e-f1df4d4ae36d/r0_0_620_348_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"These attacks give other people ideas and people are gunning against soft targets," he said.
"It's often hard to report where these things can happen and you can't police against vehicles."
![Kirsty Boden, 28, died in the London terror attack. Photo: Metropolitan Police Kirsty Boden, 28, died in the London terror attack. Photo: Metropolitan Police](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f35136a0-8a4f-4115-b904-4abe79777cfa/r0_0_985_1117_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A spokesman for the AFP said arrangements were in place in the ACT to protect crowded public places.
"These are developed in close co-operation with ACT Policing, ACT government agencies, venue owners and event organisers," the spokesman said.
"These arrangements are constantly reviewed against the risk environment. There is always more work to do on this challenging issue."
The spokesman said there were no known or credible threats to the ACT.
Australia's terror threat level has not been changed, remaining at "probable".
Since the most recent attack in London the AFP has given daily updates to the ACT's law-enforcement agencies, as well as those in other states and territories.
"Where incidents such as London occur, it is fundamental for the AFP to communicate with foreign and Australian law enforcement, including state and territory police," the AFP spokesman said.
Dr Jones said the broader picture of crime should be looked at across Australian capital cities.
"Terrorism is another form of crime and has a higher impact compared to others, and violent crime happens on a fairly regular basis in Australia," he said.
"But when we start talking about terrorist acts, it changes the significance of the events, and everything goes into overdrive."