Accused Bondi Shooters Acted Alone and Did Not Undergo Training in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators Confirm.
The pair of accused attackers responsible for the fatal attack at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, reportedly operated independently, as stated by national law enforcement.
Investigators 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 capital Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The pair flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Visit
Investigators have stated the pair did not partake in any form of terrorist coaching or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary findings from Philippine officials point to they "rarely left" their hotel.
The shooting—labeled as Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally classified as a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively examining the evidence," she said, noting that preliminary evaluations show that "the two men are believed to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett briefed media on Tuesday that CCTV footage tracking the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian authorities.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to support the idea these accused individuals were part of a larger terrorist cell, or were instructed by overseas entities to execute an attack," the police chief stated.
Yet, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines for tourism, she added. She emphasized that, since the investigation is ongoing, fresh information could emerge.
Ideology and Court Proceedings
In prior statements, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese remarked it appears both alleged attackers were "inspired by Islamic State" extremist views.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with rifles—allegedly shot guests at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is due to face court in April.
Immigration Information
In the days following the attack, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The pair had stated the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. Historically, Militant militants have been known to operate in poorer parts of central and south-western Mindanao.