Post by : Meena Ariff

Australian police have confirmed that the two men responsible for the deadly shooting at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach acted alone and were not part of any larger terrorist organization. This tragic attack, which claimed the lives of 15 people, is recorded as the worst mass shooting in Australia since 1996.

The alleged gunmen are Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24. The father-son duo traveled to the Philippines on November 1, first landing in Manila before quickly moving on to Davao City the same day. They stayed there until their return to Sydney on November 29. According to Australian authorities, there is no evidence suggesting that they underwent any form of terrorist training or received logistical support during their stay in the Philippines. Investigations have revealed that the pair mostly remained inside their hotel and had limited movement outside.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett spoke to the media about the ongoing investigation, revealing that CCTV footage from their time in the Philippines had been provided to Australian authorities. While this material is under review, initial findings suggest that the two men acted alone. There is currently no indication that Sajid and Naveed Akram were connected to any broader terrorist cell or received direct orders from others to carry out the attack. However, Commissioner Barrett emphasized that the purpose of their visit to the Philippines was not tourism-related, even though no further details have been released.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented on the incident, saying that the attackers appeared to have been motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State. During the attack on the Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police. Naveed Akram was injured and taken to the hospital but survived. Naveed has since been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. He is scheduled to face court in April.

The Philippine immigration bureau has disclosed that Sajid Akram entered the country using an Indian passport, while Naveed Akram traveled with an Australian passport. Both listed Davao as their final destination before returning to Australia. Davao City, situated on Mindanao Island, is known for having regions with active Islamist militant groups. Despite this, there is currently no evidence linking the Akram duo to these groups or any other terrorist organizations.

The investigation into the attack is still ongoing, with authorities cautioning that new information or evidence could emerge as the case progresses. The police continue to work diligently to uncover all aspects surrounding the attack to ensure justice and public safety.

#Global News