Accused Bondi Beach Attackers Operated Independently and Did Not Training in the Philippines, Police Confirm.
The pair of accused attackers responsible for the fatal incident at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, appear to have acted alone, per national police.
Investigators also confirmed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The pair returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Training During Visit
Investigators assert the pair did not receive any form of terrorist instruction or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Early findings from local authorities point to they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The attack—described as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are currently analyzing the evidence," the commissioner said, explaining that preliminary reviews show that "the two men are alleged to have acted alone."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett informed reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the alleged gunmen's whereabouts in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to support the idea these suspects were affiliated with a broader organization, or were instructed by others to carry out an incident," she emphasized.
However, the pair were additionally not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, she noted. She underscored that, since the probe is still active, additional details might come to light.
Inspiration and Legal Proceedings
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it appears both accused attackers were "influenced by the so-called Islamic State" ideology.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was shot dead by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with firearms—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Travel Information
In the wake following the attack, border officials in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The pair had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. Historically, Islamist groups have been known to operate in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
