Accused Bondi Beach Gunmen Operated Independently and Did Not Instruction in the Philippines, Police Confirm.
The pair of accused attackers who carried out the deadly attack at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, are believed to have been lone actors, according to national authorities.
Police additionally revealed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved landing in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Stay
Authorities assert the pair did not partake in any form of terrorist coaching or "organizing" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary investigations from local officials indicate they "mostly stayed in" their accommodation.
The attack—declared Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been officially classified as a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are actively reviewing the footage," she said, adding that preliminary evaluations suggest that "these individuals are alleged to have acted alone."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic investigators.
"There is no evidence to suggest these accused individuals were members of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by overseas entities to execute an act of violence," Commissioner Barrett said.
Yet, the men were also not in the Philippines for tourism, she added. She stressed that, given that the investigation is continuing, fresh information may surface.
Ideology and Legal Proceedings
Previously, Australian leader Anthony Albanese remarked it looks as though both accused attackers were "influenced by Islamic State" extremist views.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was shot dead by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—equipped with firearms—allegedly targeted attendees at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the shooting, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These comprise 15 charges of murder and one count of carrying out a terrorist act. He is due to face court in April.
Immigration Information
In the days following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines indicated that the father had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The two had listed the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their booked journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main southern island. Historically, Militant militants have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of southern and western Mindanao.
