Australian police have revealed key findings in their investigation into the deadly Bondi Beach massacre, announcing that the two men accused of carrying out the attack “acted alone” and did not receive combat or terrorist training during a recent trip to the Philippines. The remarks from law enforcement come amid ongoing scrutiny of the motives, preparation and international links related to the country’s deadliest mass shooting in decades.
Police Statement: No Evidence of Training or Wider Network
On 30 December 2025, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters that investigators have found no evidence indicating the alleged shooters were part of a broader terrorist cell or that they received training or logistical preparation abroad ahead of the attack.
The pair, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, are accused of killing 15 people and injuring around 40 others during a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach on 14 December. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son survived and has been charged with multiple murders, terrorism and explosives offences.
Barrett explained that although the father and son traveled to the southern Philippines late last year, where insurgent activity has previously occurred, authorities found no indication they took part in terrorist or weapons training during that visit.
Philippines Trip Under Scrutiny
The alleged attackers flew from Australia to the Philippines on 1 November 2025, spent nearly a month in Davao City, and returned to Sydney on 29 November — just two weeks before the massacre.
Early speculation had suggested the trip may have involved contact with extremist groups in the Philippines or that the pair had sought training in militant techniques. However, statements from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Australian authorities indicate the suspects “rarely left their hotel” during their stay, with CCTV footage suggesting the duo did not engage in organised activity or contact with any known extremist operatives.
Commissioner Barrett stressed that while the absence of evidence for training or direction does not rule out their visit having some unknown purpose, there is no current indication the trip was linked to formal terror preparation. “I want to be clear — I am not suggesting that they were there for tourism,” she said, clarifying that the purpose of the travel remains under investigation.
Acting Alone and Planning at Home
Australian authorities have emphasised that the investigation shows the pair “acted alone” and were not directed by extremist networks. In several briefings, Barrett noted that despite elements of the case involving Islamist extremist propaganda — including homemade **Islamic State–related imagery found in their vehicle — there is no evidence they were formally affiliated with or guided by any external militant group.
Police allege the attack was “meticulously planned” at home, with images and footage disclosed by investigators showing the pair training with long guns in rural New South Wales and expressing ideological motivation. These materials are being used as part of the prosecution case in the court proceedings against Naveed Akram
Context: The Bondi Beach Tragedy
The Bondi Beach shooting on 14 December stunned Australia and the world. The attack occurred at a large public event celebrating Hanukkah, a Jewish festival, and has been widely described by officials as an antisemitic terror assault. The tragedy marked the worst mass shooting in Australia’s modern history, with 15 people killed and dozens more wounded.
In the immediate aftermath, Australian authorities significantly expanded security operations nationwide, including plans for a high-profile police presence at New Year’s Eve events in Sydney to reassure the public and deter further violence.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Questions
While the AFP’s current assessment points to the suspects acting alone without external training links, investigators continue to review surveillance footage and other evidence from the Philippines trip in cooperation with local authorities. This review is part of a broader inquiry into the pair’s motives, preparation and potential influences.
Officials have made clear that the investigation remains active and that no final conclusions on all aspects of the case have yet been reached. The fact the visit was not purely for tourism, despite no training evidence, highlights lingering questions about their intentions and the need for continued scrutiny.
Broader Security Implications
The AFP’s findings have implications for domestic counterterrorism strategies. Authorities are expected to incorporate lessons from the Bondi case into intelligence and law enforcement reviews, focusing on how individuals radicalised or influenced by extremist ideas might plan attacks independently.
The Australian government has also flagged legislative reform, including strengthening hate speech laws and bolstering community engagement efforts, to help counter extremist ideologies and prevent similar acts in the future.
Conclusion: Lone Actors Without External Training
As the legal process unfolds, the current consensus among Australian police is that the Bondi gunmen operated independently and did not receive combat training in the Philippines or direction from a wider militant network. While questions remain about their travel and ideological development, authorities have found no evidence linking them to formal terror training abroad, reinforcing the view that they were lone actors motivated by extremist beliefs rather than agents of an organised cell.
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