The recent mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where 15 people lost their lives during a Hanukkah celebration, may have been influenced by ISIS, according to experts on the militant group. Counterterrorism analyst Colin Clarke initially suspected the attack was ISIS-inspired but now considers the possibility that it could have been ISIS-enabled or ISIS-directed.
The suspects involved in the shooting were a father, 50, and his son, 24. The father, identified as Sajid Akram, was fatally shot by police, while his son, Naveed Akram, was injured and is currently recovering in the hospital after coming out of a coma earlier this week. The two individuals reportedly fired at a crowd for about 10 minutes, causing panic and forcing people to seek shelter.
Law enforcement found a vehicle linked to the younger suspect at the scene, which contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS-associated flags. Australia’s federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, labeled the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.
Notably, the suspects had recently traveled to the southern Philippines, a region known to harbor ISIS-affiliated groups, raising further suspicions about their connection to the militant organization. Clarke, from the Soufan Center in New York, pointed out the skilled manner in which one of the gunmen handled the weapon during the attack, suggesting prior training.
Although the deceased suspect, Sajid Akram, was a licensed gun owner and part of a gun club, the presence of ISIS flags and the discovery of explosive devices align with typical characteristics of an ISIS-style assault. Bruce Hoffman, a counterterrorism expert, emphasized the plausibility of ISIS involvement given the historical context of random attacks orchestrated by the group.
The question of the suspects’ radicalization and potential ties to ISIS remains a focal point of the investigation. While the Philippine immigration authorities confirmed the men’s recent trip to the country, there is no conclusive evidence linking them to terrorist groups or training activities locally.
Despite the weakening of ISIS-affiliated branches in Southeast Asia over the years, remnants of the group still possess the capability to provide support for individuals or small cells to carry out terrorist acts. Clarke highlighted the ongoing threat posed by ISIS and the potential for the group’s involvement in facilitating training and target selection for attacks.
In recent times, ISIS-linked entities have orchestrated deadly assaults in various locations globally, showcasing the group’s persistent intent to carry out attacks despite setbacks in its operational capacity. Hoffman emphasized that although ISIS has faced significant losses, it remains a potent force seeking to perpetrate violence in unexpected locations.