Police Probe PI Trip By Bondi Gunmen for military training

 

 

Australian counterterrorism police are investigating a month-long trip to the Philippines taken by the alleged gunmen behind the Bondi Beach massacre, amid fears the men may have received militant training abroad in the weeks before the attack.

 

Authorities in Manila told the BBC that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the Philippines between 1 and 28 November, roughly a month before the shooting that killed 15 people at one of Australia’s most famous beaches. Sajid travelled on an Indian passport, while Naveed entered using an Australian passport, officials said.

 

The trip is now a central focus of the investigation after reports suggested the pair may have sought “military-style training” during their time in the country. Australian police have not confirmed the nature of the visit but say they are working closely with overseas counterparts to establish what the men did and who they may have met.

 

Investigators have already uncovered disturbing evidence in Australia. Police say “homemade” Islamic State flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found inside a vehicle used by the attackers, reinforcing early assessments that the attack was ideologically driven.

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the shooting appears to have been “motivated by Islamic State ideology”, describing it as one of the deadliest terror attacks on Australian soil in recent years. Security agencies have raised the national terror threat level and warned of the ongoing risk posed by lone actors and small cells inspired by extremist propaganda.

 

The victims of the Bondi attack came from across the community and included a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, a retired police officer, and a Holocaust survivor. Authorities say the scale and randomness of the violence has deeply shocked the nation.

As of Monday, 24 people remain in hospital, with three in critical condition and five listed as critical but stable. Doctors say several victims suffered life-changing injuries.

 

Police are continuing to examine digital devices, travel records and financial transactions linked to the suspects as they piece together a timeline of radicalisation and planning. The investigation is being led by counterterrorism units, with assistance from international intelligence partners.

 

Officials have urged the public not to speculate as inquiries continue, but acknowledged that the suspects’ overseas travel could prove crucial in understanding how the attack was planned and whether warning signs were missed.

 

Key Takeaways

• Australian police are investigating a Philippines trip taken weeks before the Bondi attack by the alleged gunmen.

• Islamic State flags and improvised explosives were found in a vehicle linked to the attackers.

• The shooting killed 15 people, left 24 hospitalised, and is being treated as IS-inspired terrorism.

 

SOURCE: BBC