Suspected Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators Confirm.
The two suspected gunmen who carried out the fatal attack at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, according to national police.
Authorities additionally revealed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved landing in the capital Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The pair flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Stay
Police indicate the individuals did not receive any form of terrorist instruction or "organizing" during their time in the Philippines. Initial findings from Philippine officials point to they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The incident—labeled as Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally classified as a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are currently analyzing the footage," she said, noting that early reviews suggest that "these individuals are suspected to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett briefed media on Tuesday that security camera video documenting the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were affiliated with a broader terrorist cell, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to perpetrate an attack," she stated.
Yet, the duo were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, the official added. She emphasized that, given that the probe is still active, additional details could surface.
Ideology and Court Charges
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both accused attackers were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with firearms—allegedly shot guests at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the shooting, has been charged with 59 crimes. These comprise 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the wake following the shooting, border authorities in the Philippines reported that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The two had listed the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. Historically, Islamist fighters have been known to be active in poorer parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
