Australia PM: IS Link to Attack – Details

According to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the two attackers in the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney were apparently influenced by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). “It appears that this (the attack) was motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State,” Albanese told ABC Sydney radio. When asked if he felt he had done enough to combat anti-Semitism in his country, he replied: “We are doing what we can.” ISIS’s ideology led to “this ideology of hate, and in this case the willingness to commit mass murder. We are working as hard as we can.”

According to Jewish representatives, there has been a drastic increase in anti-Semitic attacks in Australia since the terrorist attack on Israel by the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. After Sunday’s attack on the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, that left 15 dead, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Australian government of doing nothing to stop a rise in anti-Jewish hatred.

According to Australia’s Special Representative for Combating Anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, anti-Semitic incidents increased by 316 percent from October 2023 to September 2024 alone. More than 2,000 cases were reported, including threats, assaults, damage to property and intimidation. These included an arson attack in December 2024 on a synagogue in Melbourne. At the time, Australian authorities blamed Iran and expelled the Iranian ambassador.

Albanese told the radio station that everything would continue to be done to combat anti-Semitism. “We want to eradicate anti-Semitism. That is the goal,” said the prime minister.

According to investigators, the Bondi Beach attackers were father and son. The 50-year-old father was shot dead by emergency services at the scene. His 24-year-old son was shot and arrested and is in hospital with serious injuries.

The Australian government classified the act as an anti-Semitic terrorist attack. The exact motive of the two is still unknown. The police did not confirm local media reports that two IS flags were found in a car belonging to the two men, citing ongoing investigations.