Suspected Bondi Beach Shooters Operated Independently and Did Not Instruction in the Southeast Asian Nation, Authorities State.
The pair of accused gunmen who carried out the deadly attack at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, reportedly operated independently, per national police.
Investigators further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans included arriving in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The father and son returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Lack of Proof of Preparation During Trip
Authorities assert the pair did not partake in any form of terrorist training or "organizing" during their visit in the Philippines. Initial inquiries from Philippine authorities indicate they "rarely left" their hotel.
The incident—described as Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been formally classified as a act of terrorism.
"We are actively reviewing the evidence," she stated, noting that preliminary evaluations indicate that "these individuals are alleged to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett briefed media on Tuesday that surveillance material tracking the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to Australian authorities.
"There is no evidence to support the idea these accused individuals were affiliated with a broader network, or were acting on orders from external parties to perpetrate an incident," the police chief said.
But, the duo were additionally not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, Commissioner Barrett added. She emphasized that, since the investigation is continuing, additional details could come to light.
Motivation and Legal Charges
Previously, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese said it looks as though both accused attackers were "motivated by ISIS" ideology.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with firearms—allegedly shot attendees at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was wounded after the attack, has been charged with 59 offences. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the aftermath following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines indicated that the father had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The two had listed the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling city on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. The region is known because, Militant fighters have been known to operate in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
