Suspected Bondi Shooters Operated Solo and Did Not Undergo Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Say.
The pair of accused gunmen responsible for the deadly shooting at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, appear to have been lone actors, per national authorities.
Police further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included landing 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 Trip
Authorities indicate the pair did not undergo any type of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their visit in the Philippines. Initial findings from local authorities point to they "mostly stayed in" their hotel.
The shooting—labeled as Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are currently analyzing the material," the commissioner said, explaining that initial assessments suggest that "these individuals are alleged to have acted alone."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed media on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the alleged gunmen's whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic authorities.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to support the idea these accused individuals were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were instructed by external parties to execute an attack," the police chief stated.
But, the men were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, she noted. She underscored that, as the investigation is still active, fresh information could come to light.
Motivation and Court Charges
In prior statements, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both alleged attackers were "inspired by Islamic State" ideology.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was killed by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with long-barrelled guns—are accused of having opened fire on attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the shooting, has been charged with 59 crimes. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Information
In the days following the attack, immigration authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their booked return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. The region is known because, Militant fighters have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
