Suspected Bondi Beach Attackers Acted Independently and Did Not Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Investigators Say.
The two suspected attackers who carried out the fatal incident at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, per Australian police.
Authorities further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the main city Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Preparation During Trip
Investigators have stated the pair did not receive any type of terrorist coaching or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary inquiries from local authorities suggest they "rarely left" their accommodation.
The incident—described as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially designated a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are currently reviewing the evidence," the commissioner stated, noting that initial evaluations suggest that "the alleged offenders are suspected to have acted alone."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett told media on Tuesday that surveillance material showing the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"Our investigation shows little to no indication to indicate these suspects were members of a wider network, or were instructed by external parties to carry out an act of violence," she said.
Yet, the duo were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines as tourists, the official noted. She stressed that, since the investigation is still active, new evidence might come to light.
Inspiration and Court Charges
Previously, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese remarked it seems both accused attackers were "influenced by Islamic State" extremist views.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with long-barrelled guns—are accused of having shot participants at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been charged with 59 charges. These encompass 15 charges of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.
Immigration Information
In the days following the attack, immigration officials in the Philippines indicated that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an Australian passport.
The duo had declared the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. It is noted that, Militant groups have been known to be active in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
