Suspected Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Solo and Did Not Undergo Preparation in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities Say.
The pair of accused individuals responsible for the deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, appear to have operated independently, as stated by Australian authorities.
Investigators additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included landing in the capital Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Preparation During Visit
Authorities indicate the pair did not receive any type of terrorist instruction or "organizing" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary findings from local officials point to they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The shooting—declared Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially designated a terrorist incident.
"Our teams are actively reviewing the evidence," the commissioner said, noting that early evaluations suggest that "the two men are suspected to have operated independently."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett informed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage tracking the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian authorities.
"There is little to no indication to support the idea these accused individuals were affiliated with a broader network, or were acting on orders from others to perpetrate an incident," the police chief said.
However, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official added. She underscored that, as the inquiry is ongoing, new evidence may emerge.
Inspiration and Court Proceedings
Earlier, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both alleged attackers were "inspired by Islamic State" beliefs.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with rifles—are accused of having shot attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been charged with 59 crimes. These comprise 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the aftermath following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the older suspect had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The two had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their scheduled return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. It is noted that, Militant militants have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
