Alleged Bondi Shooters Operated Independently and Did Not Undergo Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Say.
The two alleged gunmen who carried out the lethal incident at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, appear to have acted alone, according to national authorities.
Investigators 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 capital Manila before traveling onward on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Planning During Visit
Investigators assert the duo did not receive any form of terrorist training or "logistical preparation" during their visit in the Philippines. Early inquiries from Philippine officials indicate they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The shooting—declared Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally classified as a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively examining the footage," she stated, noting that preliminary reviews indicate that "the alleged offenders are suspected to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage tracking the alleged gunmen's movements in the Philippines had been handed over to Australian authorities.
"There is no evidence to indicate these accused individuals were members of a broader terrorist cell, or were acting on orders from others to execute an incident," she stated.
Yet, the men were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines as tourists, the official added. She emphasized that, given that the investigation is still active, fresh information might surface.
Motivation and Legal Charges
Earlier, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both alleged gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" ideology.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying firearms—are accused of having opened fire on attendees at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been charged with 59 offences. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the days following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an Australian passport.
The two had stated the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling city on the east 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.
