Police believe Bondi attackers acted alone, were not trained in the Philippines
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The news: Police have found no evidence that the alleged Bondi terrorists received training during a trip to the Philippines, but do not believe they travelled there as tourists.
The context: Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett said an initial assessment of the alleged ISIS-inspired killers, Sajid and Naveed Akram, had concluded the father and son acted alone.
The pair travelled to the Philippines for almost a month in November, just before carrying out the deadliest terror attack on Australian soil. The pair arrived in Davao City, which has long been a travel destination for Islamist extremists, on 1 November and returned to Sydney on 29 November.
Barrett said an initial assessment, conducted in conjunction with Filipino police, found the pair spent most of their time in a hotel room they had booked for their stay. Relevant CCTV has been provided to the AFP.
“However, I want to be clear: I am not suggesting that they were there for tourism,” Barrett said.
Barrett repeatedly stressed that the conclusion was a “point in time” assessment, and investigations are ongoing.
Sajid Akram was killed by police during the attack though his son, Naveed, survived and has been charged with a suite of offences, including 15 counts of murder.
Citing a desire not to jeopardise legal proceedings, Barrett would not reveal further details about a video manifesto that police allege the Akrams filmed before the attack. Police have previously alleged that the video included the pair condemning “zionists”.
At the same press conference, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again rejected calls for a royal commission into the attack.
What they said: “What this points to … is that these individuals are alleged to have acted alone. There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by others to carry out an attack,” Barrett said.
The source: Krissy Barrett, Anthony Albanese press conference
