Police have suggested that the two men accused of the deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach may have been inspired by Islamic State ideology. The alleged attackers, Naveed and Sajid Akram, are said to have visited a Philippine island where an IS affiliate is believed to have operated.
Islamic State, an offshoot of al-Qaida, has lost 95% of the territory it gained in 2014 but remains a significant force online. In the UK, the Manchester terror plotters answered an IS 'call to arms' following the 7 October attacks.
Experts warn that despite its territorial losses, the group's online propaganda continues to inspire lone-wolf attacks worldwide. The Bondi incident is being treated as a potential template for future copycat attacks.
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