Australia lowers terror threat level for first time since 2014

The Sydney Opera House and city centre skyline are seen as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Sydney, Australia, April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/Files

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia lowered its terrorism threat level on Monday to "possible" from "probable" for the first time in eight years, citing a reduced risk of attacks from extremists.

The level was raised in 2014, spurred by concerns over the number of Australians believed to be fighting overseas with Islamist militant groups and the likelihood of terror attacks by those radicalised in Iraq or Syria.