An international counter-terrorism investigation is underway into the movements of the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen during a mysterious month-long trip to the Philippines prior to the deadly attack.
Mysterious Month in Mindanao
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, travelled to Davao City on the southern island of Mindanao for a four-week stay, returning to Sydney on November 28. Just over two weeks later, on December 14, they allegedly killed 15 people at the Chanukkah by the Sea event. Sajid was killed by police; Naveed faces 59 charges, including murder.
Philippines National Police (PNP) officers, probing whether the pair visited notorious terror training camps in the region, have discovered two other men from Sydney were in Davao City at overlapping times. One man, believed to be in his 50s, flew from Sydney via Manila on November 8, departing on November 25. A younger man, thought to be in his 20s, arrived the same day the older man left and flew home on December 3.
Investigators are now examining if the Akrams were in contact with these two men. A police source stated, "(They) possibly met with two other men while they were here. They were not tourists." Sources in Davao confirmed the father and son were seen with two mysterious companions, and Naveed reportedly told a woman he was travelling with three others.
Cash Payments and Extended Stays
The Akrams' behaviour in Davao has raised significant red flags. They repeatedly extended their stay at the GV Hotel, a $24-a-night one-star establishment in a red-light district, paying in cash weekly. Security experts suggest this method of payment increases the likelihood they were meeting extremists or receiving training.
None of the four Sydney men are believed to have visited any tourist sites, deepening the mystery of their purpose. Police have been scouring local CCTV footage. The Akrams also left their hotel for around eight hours to travel to the nearby coastal city of Panabo, where they reportedly met with Islamic religious leaders, the identities of whom remain unclear.
A Region with a Violent Terrorist History
The island of Mindanao has long been a global terrorism hotspot. Before Islamic State East Asia seized areas in 2017, groups like Abu Sayyaf used its isolated terrain for training. The region has links to major attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 88 Australians, and the abduction of Sydney man Warren Rodwell in 2011.
Despite concerns from security experts that the Akrams may have sought 'military-style' training, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has denied this occurred. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the lost month of the alleged attackers.
