The Intelligence from The Economist After Bondi: how to tackle extremism
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Dec 16, 2025 
Sue-Lin Wong, Asia correspondent for The Economist, shares insights from her on-the-ground reporting of the Bondi Beach attack, detailing the suspects' training and links to Islamic State. She discusses the national grief and public response, including acts of bravery during the attack. Rachel Lloyd contributes by recommending standout books of 2025, offering a delightful cultural escape. The conversation also touches on the rising popularity of unique advent calendars, analyzing the trend's connection to consumer behavior and year-round anticipation.
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IS Inspiration And Lone‑Actor Threat
- The Bondi Beach attack appears linked to Islamic State inspiration and overseas training in the Philippines.
- Lone actors or small groups inspired by IS are increasingly hard to detect, raising global security challenges.
Spike In Anti‑Semitism And Public Response
- Anti-Semitic incidents in Australia have surged, with more attacks in two years than the previous decade combined.
- The Bondi massacre intensified public grief and civic solidarity, including mass blood donations and vigils.
Civilian Tackle Goes Viral
- Viral footage showed a man in a white t-shirt tackle one of the gunmen and was later shot in the shoulder.
- A GoFundMe for his bravery raised over two million Australian dollars and drew praise from national figures.