Alleged Bondi Beach Gunmen Operated Alone and Did Not Undergo Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Police Say.
The two alleged individuals who carried out the fatal attack at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, according to Australian police.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included arriving in the capital Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The father and son returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Visit
Investigators indicate the individuals did not receive any form of terrorist training or "planning" during their visit in the Philippines. Initial findings from local authorities suggest they "mostly stayed in" their accommodation.
The shooting—declared Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
"We are actively examining the evidence," the commissioner stated, explaining that initial reviews indicate that "these individuals are suspected to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage showing the alleged gunmen's whereabouts in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these suspects were part of a larger network, or were instructed by others to carry out an attack," she stated.
But, the duo were also not in the Philippines for tourism, the official noted. She emphasized that, as the inquiry is still active, additional details may emerge.
Inspiration and Legal Charges
Earlier, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it looks as though both accused attackers were "influenced by ISIS" beliefs.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is due to face court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the wake following the shooting, border authorities in the Philippines indicated that the father had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The pair had listed the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their booked return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. The region is known because, Militant groups have been known to operate in poorer parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
