Suspected Bondi Gunmen Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Say.
The two suspected gunmen responsible for the fatal shooting at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, according to Australian authorities.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the capital Manila before transiting that same day to Davao City. The pair flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Visit
Authorities assert the pair did not undergo any form of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Early inquiries from local authorities indicate they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The attack—labeled as Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996—has been formally designated a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively analyzing the evidence," the commissioner stated, explaining that preliminary assessments suggest that "these individuals are alleged to have been lone actors."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been provided to Australian investigators.
"There is little to no indication to suggest these alleged offenders were affiliated with a larger network, or were instructed by others to execute an act of violence," she emphasized.
Yet, the men were additionally not in the Philippines as tourists, she noted. She stressed that, given that the inquiry is ongoing, new evidence may come to light.
Inspiration and Legal Charges
In prior statements, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented it seems both accused attackers were "influenced by Islamic State" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with long-barrelled guns—allegedly opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been charged with 59 charges. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Immigration Details
In the days following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The duo had declared the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest southern island. It is noted that, Islamist militants have reportedly be active in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
