Suspected Bondi Shooters Operated Independently and Received No Preparation in the Southeast Asian Nation, Police Say.
The pair of accused gunmen responsible for the lethal incident at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, per Australian law enforcement.
Police further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the main city Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Planning During Visit
Authorities assert the pair did not undergo any form of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their visit in the Philippines. Initial inquiries from Philippine officials point to they "rarely left" their hotel.
The shooting—described as Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally designated a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively reviewing the evidence," she stated, explaining that initial evaluations show that "the two men are believed to have operated independently."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the alleged gunmen's movements in the Philippines had been provided to domestic authorities.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to indicate these alleged offenders were part of a wider terrorist cell, or were directed by external parties to execute an attack," the police chief stated.
However, the duo were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, the official clarified. She emphasized that, as the inquiry is continuing, fresh information might emerge.
Inspiration and Court Proceedings
Earlier, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese commented it seems both alleged gunmen were "influenced by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was killed by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—allegedly targeted participants at the Hanukkah celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been charged with 59 offences. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the wake following the shooting, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. It is noted that, Islamist militants have been known to be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
