Alleged Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Independently and Did Not Instruction in the Philippines, Investigators Confirm.
The two suspected individuals who carried out the lethal shooting at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, as stated by Australian police.
Authorities also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included arriving in the capital Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The duo flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Training During Trip
Authorities assert the individuals did not partake in any type of terrorist coaching or "planning" during their visit in the Philippines. Early findings from Philippine officials point to they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The shooting—labeled as Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially declared a terrorist incident.
"We are currently analyzing the footage," she said, adding that initial assessments show that "these individuals are suspected to have acted alone."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed reporters on Tuesday that surveillance material documenting the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these accused individuals were part of a larger terrorist cell, or were instructed by overseas entities to carry out an incident," she said.
However, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, she noted. She underscored that, given that the investigation is still active, new evidence may surface.
Ideology and Legal Charges
Earlier, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both accused attackers were "motivated by ISIS" ideology.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying rifles—allegedly shot participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the shooting, has been charged with 59 charges. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Details
In the wake following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines reported that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling metropolis on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. The region is known because, Militant groups have been known to operate in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
