Accused Bondi Beach Gunmen Acted Solo and Did Not Preparation in the Philippines, Police Say.

The two alleged attackers responsible for the lethal shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 lives, reportedly operated independently, according to Australian police.

Investigators further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram journeyed to the Philippines on 1 November. Their travel plans involved arriving in the capital Manila before transiting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The duo returned to Sydney on 29 November.

Lack of Proof of Planning During Trip

Police indicate the duo did not partake in any type of attack-related coaching or "organizing" during their visit in the Philippines. Preliminary investigations from Philippine officials suggest they "hardly ventured out of" their hotel.

The incident—labeled as Australia's deadliest firearm massacre since 1996—has been officially classified as a act of terrorism.

"We are actively analyzing the evidence," the commissioner said, adding that early evaluations indicate that "these individuals are believed to have acted alone."

National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that security camera video tracking the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic investigators.

"Our investigation shows no evidence to indicate these suspects were affiliated with a broader network, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to execute an act of violence," she emphasized.

But, the men were likewise not in the Philippines as tourists, the official clarified. She emphasized that, given that the investigation is still active, new evidence could come to light.

Motivation and Legal Proceedings

Previously, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese commented it looks as though both accused attackers were "motivated by Islamic State" extremist views.

During the shooting, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—both armed with rifles—are accused of having targeted guests at the Jewish festival event.

Naveed Akram, who was injured and taken to hospital after the shooting, has been charged with 59 offences. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a act of terrorism. He is scheduled to appear in court in April.

Travel Details

In the days following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.

The pair had declared the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.

Davao is a large urban center on the eastern side of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. Historically, Militant groups have been known to be active in less developed parts of southern and western Mindanao.