Suspected Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Preparation in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Say.
The two alleged gunmen responsible for the lethal attack at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, as stated by national police.
Authorities further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included landing in the main city Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The pair returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Stay
Investigators have stated the individuals did not receive any form of terrorist instruction or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Initial inquiries from Philippine officials suggest they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The incident—labeled as Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively analyzing the footage," the commissioner said, noting that early assessments suggest that "these individuals are alleged to have operated independently."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage showing the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic investigators.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these suspects were affiliated with a larger network, or were instructed by external parties to execute an attack," Commissioner Barrett stated.
But, the men were likewise not in the Philippines as tourists, the official noted. She underscored that, given that the investigation is still active, new evidence might emerge.
Ideology and Legal Charges
Earlier, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both alleged attackers were "influenced by Islamic State" ideology.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was shot dead by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with firearms—are accused of having shot guests at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been charged with 59 crimes. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the aftermath following the attack, border authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an Australian passport.
The two had stated the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. It is noted that, Islamist militants have reportedly operate in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.