The Bondi attack and the recurring myth of Philippine ‘terror training camps’

Tom Smith

The Bondi attack and the recurring myth of Philippine ‘terror training camps’

Tom Smith

School of Strategy, Marketing and Innovation

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

The Bondi attack exposed how fast the Philippines is pulled into terror narratives, even when the facts do not fit.

In the days after the Bondi Beach attack, one detail travelled fast. The suspects had been to the Philippines.

Within hours, that fact started doing a lot of work in headlines and commentary.
The trip was quickly framed as “training”. Some reports suggested a camp. Others hinted at a hidden network.

Then the local reporting arrived. It was far less cinematic. According to hotel staff in Davao City, the two men spent most of November in a budget hotel.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Mandarin
Publication status	Published - 22 Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Philippines
Bondi
Terrorism
Mindanao
Jihadism

Access to Document

https://www.themandarin.com.au/305342-the-recurring-myth-of-terror-training-camps-in-the-philippines/

1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Mujahideen in Marawi: how local jihadism in the Philippines tried to go global
Smith, T. & Franco, J., 9 Jul 2020, Exporting Global Jihad: Critical Perspectives from Asia and North America. Smith, T. & Schulze, K. (eds.). I. B. Tauris, Vol. 2. p. 37-53 17 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Open Access

CBS - Bondi Beach attack probe yields no evidence of "broader terrorist cell," police say
Smith, T.
30/12/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
The Sunday Times - Did Bondi beach suspects try to meet Isis in the Philippines?
Smith, T.
20/12/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
CBS - Bondi Beach suspects reportedly trained in the Philippines, where there's a decades-old Islamist insurgency
Smith, T.
17/12/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment

Cite this

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The Bondi attack and the recurring myth of Philippine ‘terror training camps’

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Mujahideen in Marawi: how local jihadism in the Philippines tried to go global

Press/Media

CBS - Bondi Beach attack probe yields no evidence of "broader terrorist cell," police say

The Sunday Times - Did Bondi beach suspects try to meet Isis in the Philippines?

CBS - Bondi Beach suspects reportedly trained in the Philippines, where there's a decades-old Islamist insurgency

Cite this