Accused Bondi Attackers Acted Independently and Did Not Preparation in the Philippines, Police Say.
The pair of accused gunmen responsible for the deadly shooting at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, as stated by Australian authorities.
Authorities further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the main city Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Trip
Investigators assert the individuals did not partake in any type of terrorist instruction or "logistical preparation" during their visit in the Philippines. Initial inquiries from Philippine authorities point to they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The attack—declared Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
"We are actively reviewing the footage," she said, explaining that early reviews show that "the two men are believed to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett briefed reporters on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been handed over to Australian authorities.
"Our investigation shows little to no indication to indicate these suspects were affiliated with a broader organization, or were directed by overseas entities to carry out an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett stated.
Yet, the duo were also not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official added. She emphasized that, since the investigation is still active, additional details could come to light.
Motivation and Court Proceedings
Earlier, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both alleged gunmen were "inspired by the so-called Islamic State" extremist views.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with rifles—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.
Immigration Information
In the aftermath following the shooting, border authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The duo had stated the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive metropolis on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. Historically, Islamist militants have reportedly operate in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.
