There are growing signs that Islamic State cells are preparing for violent insurgencies in southern Philippines to build a prized so-called caliphate on Australia’s backdoor.
The establishment of an entrenched caliphate in the Philippines, at worst, brings the risk of suicide bombers and chemical weapons attacks in Australian cities, a leading Australian expert has warned.
Alan Dupont, chief strategist and defence analyst for The Cognoscenti Group, told nine.com.au that he expects the Islamic State threat in the Philippines to worsen over the next two years.