Alleged Bondi Gunmen Acted Solo and Did Not Undergo Preparation in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Confirm.
The two alleged attackers who carried out the lethal incident at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, are believed to have operated independently, as stated by national law enforcement.
Authorities also confirmed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved landing in the main city Manila before traveling onward on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Trip
Authorities assert the pair did not partake in any type of terrorist coaching or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Early findings from Philippine authorities suggest they "rarely left" their hotel.
The shooting—declared Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially designated a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively analyzing the footage," she stated, noting that initial evaluations suggest that "the two men are suspected to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that surveillance material tracking the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been provided to Australian authorities.
"There is no evidence to support the idea these accused individuals were part of a larger organization, or were instructed by external parties to execute an incident," Commissioner Barrett said.
However, the duo were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines as tourists, Commissioner Barrett noted. She stressed that, given that the investigation is still active, fresh information might surface.
Inspiration and Court Proceedings
Previously, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it seems both alleged gunmen were "influenced by Islamic State" ideology.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with rifles—allegedly targeted participants at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been charged with 59 charges. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is due to face court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the wake following the attack, border authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. Historically, Militant groups have reportedly operate in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
