Suspected Bondi Gunmen Operated Independently and Received No Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Police Say.
The two alleged gunmen responsible for the fatal attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, appear to have operated independently, according to national police.
Authorities additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the main city Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The pair flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Trip
Police assert the pair did not undergo any form of terrorist instruction or "logistical preparation" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary investigations from Philippine authorities indicate they "mostly stayed in" their accommodation.
The attack—declared Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been officially designated a terrorist incident.
"We are actively reviewing the material," she stated, adding that early reviews indicate that "the two men are suspected to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett told the press on Tuesday that surveillance material documenting the alleged gunmen's movements in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian investigators.
"There is little to no indication to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a wider organization, or were directed by overseas entities to carry out an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett stated.
Yet, the duo were also not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official noted. She emphasized that, as the probe is ongoing, fresh information could surface.
Ideology and Court Charges
In prior statements, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both accused attackers were "influenced by Islamic State" ideology.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying firearms—are accused of having shot attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 crimes. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to face court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the aftermath following the attack, border officials in the Philippines stated that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The pair had stated the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. Historically, Militant militants have been known to operate in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
