Alleged Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Alone and Did Not Instruction in the Philippines, Police Confirm.
The pair of accused individuals who carried out the deadly attack at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have operated independently, according to Australian police.
Authorities additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included landing in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Stay
Authorities assert the individuals did not receive any form of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Initial inquiries from local officials indicate they "mostly stayed in" their hotel.
The incident—declared Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident.
"We are currently examining the evidence," she stated, noting that preliminary assessments indicate that "the two men are alleged to have operated independently."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage tracking the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been provided to Australian investigators.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these accused individuals were members of a larger network, or were acting on orders from others to perpetrate an act of violence," she stated.
But, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines for tourism, she clarified. She stressed that, given that the inquiry is continuing, fresh information might come to light.
Ideology and Court Proceedings
Previously, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it seems both accused gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" ideology.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—allegedly opened fire on attendees at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These comprise 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to face court in April.
Travel Details
In the wake following the shooting, immigration officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an Australian passport.
The pair had stated the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary southern island. Historically, Militant fighters have been known to be active in less developed parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
