Australian police are pursuing two major lines of inquiry following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney on Sunday, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured.
The Philippines Connection and ISIS Evidence
One critical focus is a trip made by the attackers, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 25, to the Philippines in the weeks before the massacre. Authorities confirm the pair arrived on 1 November, listing Davao City on the southern island of Mindanao as their final destination. They returned to Sydney via Manila on 28 November, just two weeks prior to the assault.
A second key element is the discovery of two homemade Islamic State (ISIS) flags in a car registered to one of the gunmen. The vehicle was parked close to the scene of the attack, where the duo opened fire on a crowd celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah next to Bondi Beach.
Mindanao's History of Extremism
Investigators are probing a potential link between the two findings. The Philippines, particularly Mindanao, has grappled with Islamist violent extremism for decades. ISIS integrated with and built upon existing local militant networks there at the peak of its power. While its presence is now reduced, loyalists and sympathisers remain.
Security experts have long described time spent overseas with committed militants as a potential "X-factor" that can transform radical ambition into a capable attack. The purpose of the Akrams' visit remains unknown, but a simple holiday is considered highly unlikely.
Training, Indoctrination, and 'Leaderless Jihad'
One plausible theory is that the pair sought military training from active factions in Mindanao, though this would pose significant logistical challenges for two inexperienced Australians. However, Sajid Akram held a gun licence and owned six weapons, suggesting existing firearms competence. Their attack—shooting into an unarmed crowd—did not require complex tactical skills.
Often, the primary goal of such overseas contact is not skill acquisition but indoctrination and building determined purpose. Isolation from familiar surroundings can accelerate radicalisation, especially when combined with online propaganda. This pattern has been seen in major past plots in Paris, London, and on 9/11.
With ISIS's capacity for long-range attacks diminished, the group increasingly relies on inspiring followers to act independently via a "leaderless jihad" strategy. This approach has been used for over 20 years. The attack underscores that the ISIS "brand" and its brutal ideology remain a potent, global security threat over a decade after its founding.
Jewish communities were designated targets for both ISIS and al-Qaeda even before the recent Gaza conflict, but the current surge in antisemitism has exacerbated the threat. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the attackers' motivations and overseas activities.
