Alleged Bondi Beach Gunmen Acted Alone and Did Not Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators Confirm.
The two suspected attackers responsible for the deadly incident at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, appear to have operated independently, according to Australian police.
Investigators additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the main city Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Visit
Authorities have stated the pair did not partake in any form of attack-related training or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary inquiries from Philippine officials point to they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The incident—described as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a act of terrorism.
"We are actively reviewing the material," the commissioner stated, adding that initial evaluations indicate that "the two men are believed to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed reporters on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the alleged gunmen's whereabouts in the Philippines had been provided to domestic authorities.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these alleged offenders were affiliated with a wider network, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to carry out an incident," she stated.
But, the men were also not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official added. She underscored that, given that the investigation is still active, additional details could come to light.
Motivation and Legal Charges
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it seems both accused gunmen were "influenced by Islamic State" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with long-barrelled guns—are accused of having opened fire on attendees at the Jewish festival event.
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 carrying out a terrorist act. He is expected to face court in April.
Immigration Details
In the wake following the shooting, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The pair had stated the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large city on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. The region is known because, Militant militants have reportedly operate in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
