Suspected Bondi Shooters Operated Alone and Received No Preparation in the Philippines, Authorities State.
The two alleged individuals responsible for the lethal incident at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, appear to have been lone actors, per Australian law enforcement.
Investigators further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the capital Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The father and son returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Preparation During Trip
Police have stated the duo did not undergo any form of attack-related training or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Early inquiries from local authorities point to they "mostly stayed in" their hotel.
The shooting—declared Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident.
"We are actively examining the material," the commissioner said, explaining that initial evaluations indicate that "these individuals are believed to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the alleged gunmen's activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"Our investigation shows little to no indication to suggest these alleged offenders were members of a larger terrorist cell, or were instructed by external parties to carry out an attack," she emphasized.
However, the pair were also not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, Commissioner Barrett noted. She stressed that, since the inquiry is still active, additional details could emerge.
Inspiration and Legal Proceedings
In prior statements, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both accused gunmen were "influenced by Islamic State" ideology.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with firearms—allegedly shot participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Information
In the wake following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines indicated that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The pair had declared the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. The region is known because, Militant groups have reportedly be active in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.
