Alleged Bondi beach gunman visited firearms shop during Philippines visit, local police say | Bondi beach terror attack
One of the alleged Bondi beach gunmen visited a firearms shop during a visit to the Philippines; It came as local police were investigating what the duo had been doing in the weeks before the mass shooting.
Sajid Akram and his son Naveed stayed in a hotel in Davao City for four weeks before returning to Australia on 28 November; This was just two weeks before they allegedly killed 15 people and injured dozens at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by the police at the scene. Naveed Akram, 24, is charged with 59 offenses in Australia, including 15 murders.
“We are currently in the process of investigating the movements of these two suspects while they were in the Philippines,” police regional director Leon Victor Rosete told the Guardian.
The duo’s movements outside the GV hotel, where they hid during their stay in the country, became the focus of the investigation.
Rosete said police were also investigating the mobile phone numbers the duo used during their stay and the couple’s contact information.
“We are also determining their activities, their support networks. We are investigating and collecting intelligence information,” Rosete said.
“The father showed interest in firearms. He entered a firearms store,” Rosete said, adding that the store was in the city.
He also referred to CCTV footage of the pair on a “running walk” around the hotel, which lasted about an hour. Rosete said it appeared to be “physical conditioning” exercises.
“We’re putting all the information together. Now we’re connecting the dots,” Rosete said.
Authorities are rushing to obtain CCTV footage of institutions before deleting their records. Staff at the GV hotel said they invalidated the CCTV footage a week later.
National security adviser Eduardo Año said the Philippines would “ensure that no stone is left unturned.”
“We want to assist the Australian government and at the same time ensure the elimination of the possible terrorist threat in our country,” Año said.
Hotel employee Jenelyn Sayson told the Guardian that the Akrams had initially booked a seven-night stay online, but upon arrival they requested an extension and proceeded to extend their stay until November 28, according to Sayson, the front desk staff member who served them. He said the two arrived with a large piece of luggage and a backpack.
One of the investigations for authorities is why the couple repeatedly extended their stay and whether they were waiting for something or someone to arrive.
“They may have been waiting for someone who never showed up, but I don’t want to speculate,” said a security official who led the investigation.
“There is a lot of speculation, but we have to be based on evidence,” said Año, who has been in contact with Australian officials in Canberra.
“One thing is certain, they only stayed in Davao during their visit. Likewise, they did not visit any shooting range in Davao.”
