Southeast Asia is unprepared for the rapidly-rising threat of extremist attacks, warns think tank The Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). It suggests the main danger is in the southern Philippines, where a few Islamic extremist groups have sworn allegiance to ISIS; the groups have links to other parts of the region, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia. In its latest report, IPAC says that while there are no clear signs yet of an imminent attack on Australia, it has identified several areas where Australia should be concerned about terrorist threats. It said the Maute group, which is accused of carrying out a bombing in Duterte’s southern home town of Davao in September that killed 15 people, had the “smartest, best-educated and most sophisticated members”. IPAC says as ISIS loses territory in Syria and Iraq, it raises the risk of revenge attacks in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia is unprepared for the rapidly-rising threat of extremist attacks, warns think tank The Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). It suggests the main danger is in the southern Philippines, where a few Islamic extremist groups have sworn allegiance to ISIS; the groups have links to other parts of the region, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia. In its latest report, IPAC says that while there are no clear signs yet of an imminent attack on Australia, it has identified several areas where Australia should be concerned about terrorist threats. IPAC says as ISIS loses territory in Syria and Iraq, it raises the risk of revenge attacks in Southeast Asia.