Philippines Immigration Confirms Gunmen's Travel Before Bondi Beach Shooting
Travel Details of Alleged Gunmen Revealed
The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines announced on Tuesday that the two individuals responsible for the tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney had entered the country on November 1. The father, Sajid Akram, used an Indian passport, while his son, Naveed Akram, entered with an Australian passport.
According to immigration officials, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who had been residing in Australia, and his 24-year-old son Naveed arrived in Manila from Sydney before traveling to Davao in the southern region of Mindanao.
They returned to Sydney on November 28, just weeks prior to the incident, as reported by Filipino authorities.
On Tuesday, a shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach resulted in 15 fatalities, with 42 others injured, including five individuals in critical condition. Among the injured were two police officers who engaged in a shootout with the attackers.
Police shot and killed Sajid Akram at the scene, while Naveed Akram was hospitalized with serious injuries.
New South Wales police confirmed that Naveed regained consciousness on Tuesday afternoon after being in a coma.
Sajid Akram had migrated to Australia from Hyderabad in 1998, while his son was born in Australia and holds citizenship by birth.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, labeling it an act of antisemitism and terrorism.
Filipino authorities have stated that it remains unclear what activities the father and son engaged in during their time in the Philippines or if they traveled elsewhere after arriving in Davao, a city known for the presence of Islamist militant groups.
Early reports suggest that the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State, according to Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett, who emphasized that these actions are associated with a terrorist organization rather than a religion.
Authorities also recovered two homemade ISIS flags from the vehicle used by the suspects.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines are currently validating these reports and are working closely with other agencies to investigate the movements of foreign nationals and any potential terrorist connections.