🔗 Share this article Accused Bondi Shooters Acted Solo and Did Not Undergo Instruction in the Philippines, Authorities Say. National Federal Police say there is no evidence the accused Bondi Beach gunmen operated as part of a wider terror cell. The pair of accused attackers who carried out the fatal shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, per Australian police. Police further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the capital Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November. No Evidence of Planning During Stay Police have stated the duo did not undergo any type of attack-related instruction or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Initial investigations from Philippine authorities suggest they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel. The incident—described as Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident. "Our teams are currently reviewing the material," she said, explaining that preliminary reviews show that "the two men are alleged to have operated independently." Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic investigators. "There is little to no indication to support the idea these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were instructed by others to execute an attack," Commissioner Barrett said. Yet, the men were additionally not in the Philippines for tourism, Commissioner Barrett noted. She stressed that, since the probe is continuing, fresh information could come to light. Motivation and Court Charges Previously, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both accused gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs. During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying long-barrelled guns—allegedly targeted attendees at the Hanukkah event. Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been charged with 59 offences. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is due to appear in court in April. Immigration Details In the wake following the attack, border authorities in the Philippines indicated that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport. The duo had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney. Davao is a expansive urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. The region is known because, Militant fighters have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
National Federal Police say there is no evidence the accused Bondi Beach gunmen operated as part of a wider terror cell. The pair of accused attackers who carried out the fatal shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, reportedly acted alone, per Australian police. Police further stated that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved arriving in the capital Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November. No Evidence of Planning During Stay Police have stated the duo did not undergo any type of attack-related instruction or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Initial investigations from Philippine authorities suggest they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel. The incident—described as Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a terrorist incident. "Our teams are currently reviewing the material," she said, explaining that preliminary reviews show that "the two men are alleged to have operated independently." Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the accused attackers' movements in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic investigators. "There is little to no indication to support the idea these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were instructed by others to execute an attack," Commissioner Barrett said. Yet, the men were additionally not in the Philippines for tourism, Commissioner Barrett noted. She stressed that, since the probe is continuing, fresh information could come to light. Motivation and Court Charges Previously, Australian leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both accused gunmen were "motivated by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs. During the incident, Sajid Akram was killed by responding officers. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying long-barrelled guns—allegedly targeted attendees at the Hanukkah event. Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the shooting, has been charged with 59 offences. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is due to appear in court in April. Immigration Details In the wake following the attack, border authorities in the Philippines indicated that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport. The duo had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney. Davao is a expansive urban center on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. The region is known because, Militant fighters have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.