Accused Bondi Beach Shooters Acted Alone and Did Not Preparation in the Philippines, Investigators State.
The pair of accused gunmen responsible for the fatal shooting at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, as stated by Australian police.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the main city Manila before traveling onward that same day to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Planning During Stay
Police have stated the duo did not undergo any type of attack-related coaching or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Early investigations from local authorities point to they "mostly stayed in" their hotel.
The attack—declared Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally declared a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are actively analyzing the evidence," the commissioner said, adding that preliminary reviews suggest that "the alleged offenders are alleged to have acted alone."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed media on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian authorities.
"There is little to no indication to suggest these suspects were affiliated with a broader terrorist cell, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to carry out an attack," the police chief emphasized.
However, the pair were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, Commissioner Barrett added. She underscored that, since the probe is continuing, new evidence might emerge.
Ideology and Court Charges
In prior statements, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both alleged attackers were "influenced by ISIS" extremist views.
During the attack, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with long-barrelled guns—allegedly opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been charged with 59 crimes. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Travel Details
In the wake following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines stated that the father had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The duo had stated the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their scheduled journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling city on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. It is noted that, Militant fighters have been known to be active in less developed parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
