Police Report: Bondi Gunmen Suspected of Ties to Terror Group After Philippines Visit

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The alleged gunmen behind Sunday’s attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach had “aligned” themselves with a terrorist organisation and travelled to the Philippines shortly before the attack was carried out, police say.

Fifteen people were killed by two gunmen during the attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration, with the victims’ ages ranging from 10 to 87.

NSW Police commissioner Mal Lanyon said during a press conference on Tuesday that a vehicle registered to Naveed Akram, seized by police at the scene of the attack on Sunday, contained two homemade flags representing the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group, along with improvised explosive devices.

In recent developments, Lanyon confirmed reports that the two accused individuals had traveled to the Philippines last month. However, the reasons behind their visit and their exact itinerary within the country are still under scrutiny by investigators.

“Our investigation into the motive behind this tragedy is ongoing,” Lanyon stated, emphasizing the importance of understanding the reasons behind these actions.

He made it clear that the actions of the suspects should be seen as aligning with a terrorist organization rather than being representative of any religion.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett both said there were early indications the attack appeared to be “inspired by [IS]” during Tuesday’s press conference.

Barrett, in her first public comments on the incident since returning to Australia from an overseas work matter, said there was no evidence to suggest there were others involved in the attack, but said that could change given how early the investigation was.

“Alleged evidence has provided investigators with a swathe of information that has enabled them to make this initial assessment about the alleged individuals involved and their motivations,” she said.

Additionally, records reveal that one of the accused applied for a second category AB license in 2020, which allows the possession of long-barrelled firearms allegedly used in the incident. This license was granted in 2023.

Barrett said the NSW joint counter-terrorism team — including the AFP, NSW Police, ASIO and NSW Crime Commission — was continuing to review material seized during search warrants.

Lanyon also corrected earlier details provided about the firearms licence registered to Sajid Akram. Initially, it had been said that he had held a firearms licence since 2015.

Lanyon said that Akram had applied for a licence in October 2015, but did not get a photo taken as required during the process, and it lapsed in 2016.

He applied for a second category AB licence — permitting him to own the long-barrelled firearms allegedly used in the attack — in 2020, and it was issued in 2023.

The father legally owned six registered firearms, with four found at the scene of the attack and two recovered by police from a house in Campsie during a raid.

“He was licensed to hold a Category AB licence, and the firearms that we have seized were attached to that licence appropriately,” Lanyon said.

The 2023 licence was granted after four years after Sajid’s son Naveed Akram had been investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation because of his connections with two people who both subsequently went to jail, but there had been “no evidence” Naveed had been radicalised.

NSW Premier Chris Minns suggested a “controversial” aspect of future gun law reform in the state could be allowing police to rely on criminal intelligence, not just a criminal record, to determine whether someone should be granted or retain a gun licence.