Two big leads are shaping the probe into Sunday’s antisemitic terror attack in Sydney. First, the two shooters traveled to the Philippines before the massacre where 15 died and many were hurt. Second, officials found two homemade Islamic State flags in a car registered to the gunmen, parked near Bondi Beach where the attack struck a Hanukah crowd. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 25, visited Mindanao in the southern Philippines from November 1 to 28. This area has a history of Islamist extremist activity, including ISIS-linked groups. Authorities do not yet know what the men did there. Experts say overseas time with militants can turn amateurs into expert attackers. It’s unlikely they went for a holiday. They may have sought militant training, though this would be hard for them to arrange. Sajid already had a gun license and six weapons. Their attack was simple: shooting into an unarmed crowd, without plans to take hostages or fight police. Sometimes, training abroad serves to build strong beliefs and team spirit rather than teaching new skills. Lone attackers inspired by ISIS often act independently, driven by online propaganda. Recent attacks show ISIS ideology remains a threat despite losing ground. Last year, an ISIS-inspired truck attack killed 14 in New Orleans. Tensions have made Jewish communities easier targets. In Manchester, a synagogue attacker claimed ISIS loyalty before killing two. While many details of the Sydney attack remain unknown, it is clear ISIS’s brutal message still challenges security forces worldwide, more than a decade after its rise.