Front Burner (CBC) – "Bondi Beach and the ISIS connection"

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Jayme Poisson
Guest: Lucas Weber, Senior Research Fellow at the Sufan Center & Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst at Tech Against Terrorism

Episode Overview

This episode examines the tragic mass shooting on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia—a Hanukkah gathering targeted by assailants reportedly motivated by ISIS ideology. Host Jayme Poisson and counterterrorism expert Lucas Weber break down details of the attack, connections to global jihadist networks, the renewed ISIS threat landscape, and the international context fueling the group's resurgence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Bondi Beach Attack: Facts and Investigation

• Attack Details:
  • 15 killed, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda.
  • Perpetrators: Sajid Akram (father, 50, Indian origin) and son Naveed Akram (24, Australian-born). Sajid was killed at the scene; Naveed is hospitalized and charged with terrorism/murder ([02:40]).

“Naveed was investigated by ASIO in 2019 … because of alleged associations with the Sydney-based Islamic State Network.” – Lucas Weber [03:17]

• Suspects' Background:

  • Sajid had arrived in 1998 on a student visa and was a licensed gun owner.
  • Naveed previously associated with a controversial pro-IS preacher ([03:17]), investigated in 2019, but not deemed an imminent threat.

• Attack Methods:

  • Weapons obtained legally by Sajid, modified with scopes.
  • Naveed trained at a shooting range, indicating premeditation and skill ([04:46]).

Suspects' Travel to the Philippines

• Uncertain Motive:
  • The duo traveled to southern Philippines in November 2025.
  • Philippine authorities deny confirmed links to militant training; some reports suggest possible "militant-style training" ([06:02]-[06:52]).

“If this is the case that they … had contacts with IS militants, it would be the Islamic State East Asia Province.” – Lucas Weber [06:52]

• IS East Asia Province (ISEAP):
  • Once a significant force in the region, now diminished but active online.
  • ISEAP militants maintain social media profiles openly, simplifying online recruitment/contact ([08:08]).

ISIS Propaganda and Online Activity Post-Attack

• Online Extremist Reaction:
  • Islamic State channels publicly celebrated the attack, urging replicates ([09:30]).
• Propaganda:
  • ISIS's official newsletter praised Bondi attack, called for targeting Christian and Jewish events during the holidays ([09:30]).
  • Notably, increased chatter inciting attacks globally, including in Europe and North America.

“The editorial was praising the Bondi beach attack. ... called for more attacks against Christians and Jews. … called for attacks on Christmas, New Year’s Eve kind of holiday events.” – Lucas Weber [09:30]

• Global Threat Environment:
  • Recent plots foiled in Germany, Poland, US; arrests in Canada and Austria ([10:34]-[11:03]).
  • Heightened international vigilance around holidays, with some events in France restricted ([11:03]).

Why Is ISIS Activity Rising Again?

• Drivers of Resurgence:
  • The Hamas attack on Israel (Oct 7, 2023) and subsequent conflict have been leveraged by ISIS to radicalize, recruit, and incite violence.
  • The group exploits sectarian anger and grievances surrounding Israel-Gaza war ([12:24]-[14:08]).

“What the Islamic State has done, it has leveraged the hostilities stirred up by the conflict … to fundraise, recruit, conduct external operations, spur momentum.” – Lucas Weber [12:24]

• Increasingly Antisemitic and Anti-Christian Focus:
  • While historically antisemitic, ISIS has intensified calls for attacks on Jews and now Christians, exploiting current events ([14:19]).

The Evolving, Decentralized Threat

• ISIS in Syria:
  • Recent deadly ISIS ambushes on American personnel; resurgence despite caliphate’s fall ([15:21]-[16:07]).
  • Security of detention camps holding IS fighters/families is a growing concern, with active fundraising and prison breaks ("breaking the walls campaign") ([16:07]).

“...major problem with the humanitarian and detention camps in Syria which house IS fighters and their families. … often using cryptocurrency to try to help IS fighters and families escape from these camps.” – Lucas Weber [16:07]

• Global Spread and Multi-Vector Operations:
  • ISIS no longer launches external attacks mainly from Syria: current networks operate from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sahel, Mozambique, etc. ([18:32])
  • Youth radicalization a concern, with evidence of recruitment on gaming platforms ([20:37]-[20:39]).

“At a time when I’m seeing all these threats … plotters are getting younger and younger. So we have a youth radicalization problem as well. I’ve been finding Canadian IS supporters on gaming platforms.” – Lucas Weber [20:37]

• Resource Gaps and Policy Challenges:
  • Western counterterrorism is deprioritized in favor of broader geopolitical focus and other domestic issues.
  • Resurgence is occurring despite shrinking resources ([18:32]).

Policy Responses and Their Limitations

• Australian Government Measures Post-Attack:

  • Expanding hate laws to cover “hate preachers,” withdrawing funds from groups supporting antisemitism, and considering visa pauses from “terrorist enclaves” ([20:40]).

• Expert Skepticism:

  • While accurate screening is vital, over-broad, politicized policies risk targeting legitimate activism/opinion and reducing effectiveness ([21:24]).

“There is a danger to this … activist groups [can] be deemed extremists ... could become politicized … a very difficult thing to navigate.” – Lucas Weber [21:24]

Memorable Quotes

• On the Islamic State’s ability to radicalize online:

  “ISA is unique as a branch in that their fighters actually have their own profiles on major social media outlets … it would be very easy to reach out and kind of make contact with these individuals.”
  — Lucas Weber [08:08]

• On current Western preparedness:

  "Honestly, I do not think so. … There's shifting resources to other domestic issues... CT is kind of being pushed down in terms of priority. But this is being done at a time where we're seeing resurgence."
  — Lucas Weber [18:32]

• On policy risks:

  “There is a danger to this, but there also is a side that could work, but honestly don’t have. Not too optimistic.”
  — Lucas Weber [21:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:35] – Introduction and overview of the Bondi Beach attack
• [01:36] – Links to ISIS; preliminary details from authorities
• [03:17] – Naveed Akram’s extremism history
• [04:37] – Firearms, training, and operational effectiveness
• [05:49] – Suspects' trip to Philippines; possible connections/explanations
• [08:08] – ISIS presence and outreach in the Philippines
• [09:30] – ISIS media and supporter reaction post-attack
• [12:24] – Factors fueling the global rise in ISIS activity
• [14:08] – Evolution and escalation of antisemitic targeting
• [15:21] – Renewed ISIS violence in Syria; prison camps and operational risks
• [18:32] – State of Western counterterrorism preparedness; youth radicalization
• [20:40] – Policy responses and their complexities

Tone and Style

The episode is sober, urgent, and analytical, with Lucas Weber providing case-based, real-time threat assessments and expressing concern over both global and local security gaps. The conversation is focused, rich in detail, and intended to help listeners understand both the specifics of the Sydney attack and its connection to wider patterns of ISIS activity.

Conclusion

The Bondi Beach attack underscores the enduring, evolving threat posed by ISIS and its decentralized networks. The episode reveals gaps in detection and prevention, increased youth radicalization, difficulties around policy responses, and the ability of ISIS to amplify international crises for recruitment and incitement. Listeners are left with a nuanced understanding of how regional incidents reflect broader global security challenges, especially as extremist groups exploit ongoing conflicts.