Australian counter-terrorism authorities are urgently investigating a mysterious trip to the Philippines made by the two alleged Bondi shooters just weeks before they launched a deadly attack on the Jewish community.
Philippines Journey Under Scrutiny
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, that the two men, Naveed and Sajid Akram, travelled to the Asian nation last month. The purpose and details of their visit are now a central focus of the investigation into the horrific events in Bondi on Sunday.
"I can confirm that they did travel to the Philippines," Commissioner Lanyon stated. "The reasons why they went to the Philippines, and the purpose of that, and where they went when they were there, is under investigation at the moment."
Military Training and ISIS Connection Revealed
This confirmation follows a major report by the ABC, which cited senior counter-terrorism officials. Those sources revealed that the Akram brothers underwent military-style training in the southern regions of the Philippines during their visit. The pair returned to their home in Sydney only a short time before executing their attack on crowds celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
Commissioner Lanyon also disclosed critical evidence found in a vehicle registered to the younger suspect. The vehicle contained improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two homemade ISIS flags, solidifying the terror group's ideological link to the attack.
A Known Terrorist Hotspot
The choice of the Philippines is significant for investigators. The country, particularly the southern island of Mindanao, has been a notorious hotspot for Islamist militant activity for decades. Since the early 1990s, terrorist training camps previously located on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border were re-established in this region, making it a known destination for those seeking illicit paramilitary instruction.
The probe into the brothers' activities abroad is now running parallel to the domestic investigation, as authorities piece together the timeline of planning and radicalisation that led to the Bondi bridge shooting.
