Sydney, Australia (CNN) For most young Australians, the violence and extremism of Syria feels a world away. But for a tiny minority, ISIS exerts a powerful allure, leading a small but significant number to head to the Middle East to take up arms. And while the de facto capital of the self-described ISIS caliphate is more than 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from Sydney, the murderous group's reach is keenly felt here -- as Australia reels from what police say was a narrowly averted, ISIS-assisted plot to bring down a plane. For some, the ISIS connection is real and immediate. "I know two friends, two personal friends of mine who traveled to fight for ISIS," says a 20-year-old university student who asks to remain anonymous, out of safety concerns.Radicalization in Australia a worrying trend, experts saySome Australian Muslims say that not enough is being done to counter the problem
CNN interactive: Behind the mask - From altar boy to _ fighter. Schoolgirl, man arrested in _ in connection with ISIS fundraising.