Alleged Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Alone and Received No Preparation in the Philippines, Investigators Say.
The two alleged individuals who carried out the fatal attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, appear to have been lone actors, according to national law enforcement.
Authorities further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included landing in the capital Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Training During Stay
Authorities indicate the duo did not partake in any type of attack-related training or "logistical preparation" during their time in the Philippines. Early investigations from Philippine officials point to they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The attack—labeled as Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are currently examining the material," the commissioner said, adding that early assessments show that "the two men are suspected to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett told media on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been handed over to Australian investigators.
"There is no evidence to suggest these suspects were affiliated with a larger network, or were acting on orders from external parties to carry out an attack," the police chief stated.
Yet, the duo were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, Commissioner Barrett noted. She emphasized that, as the probe is continuing, additional details could surface.
Inspiration and Court Proceedings
Previously, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese remarked it looks as though both alleged attackers were "motivated by Islamic State" beliefs.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with long-barrelled guns—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been charged with 59 crimes. These encompass 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Immigration Details
In the wake following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines stated that the father had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had stated the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their scheduled return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. The region is known because, Islamist groups have reportedly be active in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.
