Alleged Bondi Beach Attackers Acted Solo and Received No Instruction in the Philippines, Police Say.
The two suspected gunmen responsible for the lethal shooting at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, as stated by national police.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved landing in the main city Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Stay
Police have stated the duo did not receive any form of terrorist instruction or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Early inquiries from local officials suggest they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The incident—labeled as Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally declared a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are actively examining the footage," the commissioner said, explaining that early evaluations suggest that "the alleged offenders are alleged to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been provided to Australian authorities.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these accused individuals were members of a wider organization, or were directed by overseas entities to perpetrate an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett stated.
Yet, the pair were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, she added. She stressed that, since the inquiry is ongoing, new evidence might emerge.
Ideology and Court Charges
Previously, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both accused gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying long-barrelled guns—allegedly shot participants at the Jewish festival event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 crimes. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is due to face court in April.
Immigration Information
In the wake following the attack, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian passport.
The two had declared the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged 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 militants have reportedly operate in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
