Accused Bondi Beach Attackers Acted Solo and Did Not Undergo Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators Say.
The two alleged individuals who carried out the fatal shooting at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, according to Australian law enforcement.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved landing in the capital Manila before traveling onward on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Training During Stay
Police assert the pair did not partake in any form of terrorist training or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Early findings from local officials point to they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The attack—labeled as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally designated a act of terrorism.
"We are currently examining the footage," the commissioner said, adding that preliminary evaluations show that "these individuals are alleged to have operated independently."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett informed media on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the alleged gunmen's movements in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic investigators.
"There is no evidence to support the idea these suspects were affiliated with a wider network, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to carry out an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett said.
But, the pair were additionally not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official added. She emphasized that, since the inquiry is ongoing, additional details may come to light.
Motivation and Court Charges
In prior statements, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it appears both accused attackers were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—both armed with long-barrelled guns—are accused of having opened fire on guests at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Travel Information
In the aftermath following the attack, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the father had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. Historically, Militant groups have reportedly operate in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.
