Accused Bondi Beach Gunmen Acted Independently and Did Not Preparation in the Philippines, Police State.
The two alleged gunmen responsible for the lethal attack at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, per national authorities.
Authorities also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the main city Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Preparation During Stay
Authorities assert the individuals did not receive any form of attack-related instruction or "organizing" during their time in the Philippines. Early findings from local authorities point to they "hardly ventured out of" their accommodation.
The attack—labeled as Australia's most severe firearm massacre since 1996—has been formally declared a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are currently examining the material," she stated, noting that early reviews show that "the alleged offenders are alleged to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett briefed reporters on Tuesday that security camera video documenting the alleged gunmen's activities in the Philippines had been submitted to Australian investigators.
"Our investigation shows no evidence to indicate these accused individuals were members of a broader network, or were acting on orders from others to execute an incident," she stated.
However, the pair were also not necessarily in the Philippines for tourism, she added. She emphasized that, since the investigation is still active, fresh information might surface.
Ideology and Court Charges
Earlier, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it seems both alleged attackers were "influenced by the so-called Islamic State" ideology.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying long-barrelled guns—allegedly shot participants at the Hanukkah event.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 offences. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a act of terrorism. He is due to appear in court in April.
Immigration Particulars
In the days following the shooting, border authorities in the Philippines stated that the older suspect had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The duo had stated the metropolis of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a sprawling metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' primary island in the south. The region is known because, Islamist fighters have been known to be active in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.