Suspected Bondi Gunmen Acted Independently and Received No Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities State.
The pair of accused individuals who carried out the lethal incident at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, per Australian authorities.
Police further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Trip
Police indicate the duo did not undergo any form of terrorist coaching or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary findings from local officials point to they "mostly stayed in" their hotel.
The attack—described as Australia's deadliest mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are currently examining the footage," the commissioner said, noting that preliminary evaluations suggest that "these individuals are believed to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett told media on Tuesday that security camera video showing the alleged gunmen's movements in the Philippines had been provided to domestic authorities.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these accused individuals were members of a wider organization, or were acting on orders from external parties to execute an act of violence," the police chief emphasized.
Yet, the duo were also not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, she clarified. She emphasized that, given that the inquiry is ongoing, additional details may emerge.
Motivation and Legal Proceedings
In prior statements, Australian leader Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both alleged gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with long-barrelled guns—allegedly targeted attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been charged with 59 charges. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Travel Details
In the aftermath following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The two had listed the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large city on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary southern island. Historically, Islamist militants have reportedly operate in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.
