Suspected Bondi Attackers Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Confirm.
The pair of accused individuals who carried out the deadly incident at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have operated independently, per national authorities.
Investigators additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included arriving 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 Training During Trip
Authorities assert the duo did not receive any type of terrorist instruction or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary investigations from Philippine officials indicate they "rarely left" their hotel.
The attack—described as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially designated a act of terrorism.
"We are currently examining the footage," the commissioner stated, noting that early assessments show that "the alleged offenders are suspected to have operated independently."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage tracking the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been provided to domestic investigators.
"There is no evidence to support the idea these accused individuals were members of a wider network, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to perpetrate an incident," Commissioner Barrett said.
But, the duo were likewise not in the Philippines as tourists, Commissioner Barrett added. She emphasized that, since the probe is ongoing, additional details might emerge.
Motivation and Court Proceedings
In prior statements, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese remarked it looks as though both accused gunmen were "inspired by Islamic State" ideology.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with rifles—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Jewish festival event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a terrorist act. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the wake following the attack, border officials in the Philippines reported that the father had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian 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 expansive urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. The region is known because, Islamist fighters have been known to be active in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
