Alleged Bondi Shooters Acted Alone and Received No Training in the Philippines, Investigators State.
The pair of accused gunmen who carried out the deadly incident at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, are believed to have acted alone, as stated by Australian law enforcement.
Investigators also confirmed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the capital Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Planning During Stay
Investigators indicate the pair did not undergo any form of terrorist training or "planning" during their time in the Philippines. Preliminary inquiries from local authorities point to they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.
The shooting—declared Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been officially classified as a act of terrorism.
"We are currently analyzing the footage," the commissioner said, explaining that preliminary evaluations show that "the two men are suspected to have operated independently."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage documenting the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these suspects were part of a wider network, or were directed by others to carry out an act of violence," she emphasized.
Yet, the pair were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, the official noted. She underscored that, since the investigation is continuing, new evidence might emerge.
Motivation and Legal Proceedings
In prior statements, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both alleged attackers were "influenced by ISIS" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by police. He and his son Naveed—equipped with firearms—are accused of having opened fire on participants at the Hanukkah celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been charged with 59 charges. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a act of terrorism. He is expected to face court in April.
Travel Particulars
In the days following the shooting, border officials in the Philippines stated that the older suspect had entered the country using an Indian passport, while his son used an domestic passport.
The two had stated the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large metropolis on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' main island in the south. It is noted that, Islamist groups have reportedly be active in poorer parts of southern and western Mindanao.
