Alleged Bondi Beach Gunmen Acted Independently and Did Not Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators State.
The two suspected gunmen responsible for the lethal shooting at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, according to national law enforcement.
Police additionally revealed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the main city Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The pair returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Preparation During Trip
Investigators indicate the individuals did not partake in any type of attack-related instruction or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Early investigations from local authorities point to they "rarely left" their hotel.
The shooting—described as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially classified as a act of terrorism.
"We are actively examining the evidence," she said, adding that early evaluations show that "these individuals are suspected to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters on Tuesday that surveillance material showing the alleged gunmen's activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these suspects were part of a larger organization, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to perpetrate an incident," she said.
But, the men were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, she noted. She underscored that, given that the investigation is ongoing, additional details could surface.
Inspiration and Court Proceedings
In prior statements, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both alleged gunmen were "motivated by ISIS" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—are accused of having shot participants at the Jewish festival event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been charged with 59 charges. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is due to appear in court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the aftermath following the attack, border authorities in the Philippines indicated that the older suspect had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his son 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 eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main southern island. It is noted that, Islamist groups have reportedly operate in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
