Suspected Bondi Attackers Operated Alone and Did Not Undergo Training in the Philippines, Investigators Say.
The pair of accused individuals responsible for the lethal incident at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, appear to have operated independently, per Australian police.
Authorities further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed 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 flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Preparation During Trip
Police assert the duo did not partake in any form of terrorist coaching or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary investigations from local officials point to they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The attack—declared Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been officially classified as a act of terrorism.
"We are actively examining the footage," the commissioner stated, explaining that initial evaluations show that "the two men are suspected to have operated independently."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett informed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage showing the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian investigators.
"There is no evidence to indicate these accused individuals were members of a wider organization, or were directed by overseas entities to perpetrate an attack," she stated.
However, the pair were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines as tourists, Commissioner Barrett clarified. She stressed that, since the investigation is continuing, fresh information might come to light.
Motivation and Court Charges
In prior statements, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both accused gunmen were "inspired by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was shot dead by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with firearms—allegedly targeted attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the attack, has been charged with 59 crimes. These encompass 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Immigration Information
In the days following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. It is noted that, Islamist groups have been known to be active in poorer parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
