Alleged Bondi Beach Attackers Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Instruction in the Philippines, Investigators Confirm.
The pair of accused individuals responsible for the fatal incident at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have operated independently, per Australian law enforcement.
Investigators additionally revealed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the main city Manila before traveling onward on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Training During Stay
Police assert the individuals did not undergo any type of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary findings from local authorities suggest they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The attack—described as Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996—has been officially declared a act of terrorism.
"We are actively analyzing the evidence," the commissioner stated, explaining that preliminary reviews suggest that "the two men are alleged to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed the press on Tuesday that surveillance material showing the alleged gunmen's activities in the Philippines had been handed over to Australian authorities.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to indicate these accused individuals were part of a wider organization, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to carry out an act of violence," she said.
However, the men were additionally not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, Commissioner Barrett added. She stressed that, given that the inquiry is ongoing, new evidence might surface.
Motivation and Court Charges
Earlier, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both alleged attackers were "motivated by Islamic State" extremist views.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with firearms—are accused of having shot guests at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Details
In the wake following the attack, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The pair had listed the southern city of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. Historically, Islamist fighters have been known to be active in less developed parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
