Alleged Bondi Attackers Acted Independently and Did Not Undergo Preparation in the Philippines, Police State.
The pair of accused attackers who carried out the fatal shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, according to national law enforcement.
Authorities also confirmed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the main city Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The pair returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Preparation During Stay
Authorities assert the individuals did not receive any type of terrorist instruction or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary findings from Philippine authorities indicate they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The shooting—labeled as Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are currently examining the material," the commissioner said, explaining that early assessments show that "these individuals are suspected to have acted alone."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian authorities.
"There is little to no indication to suggest these accused individuals were part of a broader organization, or were instructed by overseas entities to execute an attack," she said.
However, the duo were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official clarified. She emphasized that, since the inquiry is ongoing, additional details may surface.
Ideology and Court Proceedings
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both accused attackers were "inspired by ISIS" beliefs.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was shot dead by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—allegedly shot participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been charged with 59 crimes. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.
Immigration Details
In the aftermath following the attack, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had listed the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. The region is known because, Militant militants have been known to be active in less developed parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
