Accused Bondi Shooters Operated Independently and Did Not Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Police State.
The pair of accused attackers who carried out the lethal incident at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, appear to have operated independently, according to national authorities.
Authorities further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included landing in the main city Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Training During Visit
Police assert the pair did not receive any type of attack-related coaching or "logistical preparation" during their time in the Philippines. Early inquiries from Philippine officials suggest they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The attack—declared Australia's worst firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally classified as a terrorist incident.
"We are actively reviewing the evidence," she said, noting that initial reviews show that "the alleged offenders are believed to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett informed reporters on Tuesday that surveillance material documenting the alleged gunmen's whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic authorities.
"There is little to no indication to indicate these accused individuals were members of a wider network, or were acting on orders from others to execute an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett said.
Yet, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines for tourism, Commissioner Barrett clarified. She stressed that, given that the probe is continuing, fresh information could come to light.
Ideology and Legal Charges
In prior statements, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it appears both accused gunmen were "motivated by Islamic State" extremist views.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with firearms—are accused of having opened fire on guests at the Jewish festival event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 crimes. These comprise 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Immigration Information
In the days following the attack, immigration authorities in the Philippines stated that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had listed 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' main southern island. The region is known because, Islamist groups have reportedly operate in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
