Australian police revealed that the gunmen who carried out the Bondi Beach shooting stayed in the Philippines for nearly a month before the incident, and their actions appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State militant group.
On Tuesday, 16 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Australian police disclosed that two gunmen who attacked a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 innocent people, traveled to the Philippines shortly before returning to carry out the attack. The attack seemed to be inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS).
The attack, which occurred last Sunday (14 Dec), is the worst mass shooting in Australia in nearly 30 years and is being investigated as a terrorist act targeting the Jewish community.
The death toll remains at 15 victims, excluding one of the two gunmen who was shot dead by police at the scene. Police identified him as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, while his 24-year-old son Navid, who also participated in the attack, was critically injured and is currently hospitalized.
Police stated that the father and son Akram traveled to the Philippines in November, and authorities are investigating the purpose of their trip.
Philippine immigration officials said the two traveled to Manila and then to Davao City in the southern Philippines on 1 November and left the country on 28 November, just weeks before the Bondi Beach shooting.
Officials added that the father traveled on an Indian passport while the son used an Australian passport. They also noted there is no conclusion yet on whether they had ties to any terrorist groups or received training in the Philippines.
It is known that networks linked to ISIS operate in the Philippines and hold influence in some areas of Mindanao island in the south. However, these networks have significantly diminished in size over recent years.
Chris Barrett, Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said at a press conference that preliminary indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS and emphasized that these acts are carried out by individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations, not by any religion.
Police also reported that in a vehicle registered to Navid Akram, they found improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two handmade flags related to ISIS. Authorities are still gathering information to understand how he became radicalized.
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Source:Reuters