Australian police find no evidence of ‘broader terrorist cell’ in Bondi Beach antisemitic shooting

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Investigation involving the Philippines into two men accused of shooting 15 people to death in Sydney jewish festival Police said Tuesday they found no evidence they were part of a “wider terrorist cell.”

Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, who live in Sydney, spent most of November in Davao city in the southern Philippines, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.

They flew back from Manila on November 29. Two weeks later, they are accused of killing 15 people and wounding 40 others in a mass shooting targeting the Hannukah festival at Bondi Beach.

Barrett said the Philippine National Police found that the couple rarely left the hotel during the visit.

“There is no evidence that they were training or making logistical preparations for the alleged attack,” Barrett told reporters.

“These individuals allegedly acted alone. There is no evidence to suggest that these suspects were part of a broader terrorist cell or were directed by others to carry out an attack. But I want to be clear, I am not suggesting they were there for tourism,” Barrett added.

Barrett did not provide detailed information about the reason for the visit, which began on November 1.

Police claim the duo was inspired by the Islamic State group. Southern Philippines once attracted few people Foreign militants affiliated with the Islamic State group or Al Qaeda To be educated about a separatist conflict involving minority Muslims in this predominantly Catholic country.

Barrett said she was limited in what she could reveal about the investigation in the Philippines because she did not want to harm Naveed Akram’s case.

He hasn’t gotten defensive yet. dozens of accusations Including committing 15 murders and one act of terrorism. Police shot him in the stomach during a gunfight in Bondi on December 14 and he remained in hospital for a week before being transferred to prison. Police shot his father dead in Bondi.

Authorities are promising the largest ever police presence at New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sydney Harbor on Wednesday. More than 2,500 police officers will be on duty. Many will be openly carrying automatic rifles, a rare sight on Sydney streets.

Police who first responded to the Bondi massacre were armed with Glock pistols, which lacked the lethal range of the Akrams’ rifles and shotguns. Two police officers are among the injured.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the state was not moving towards a more militarized police force in response to the attack.

“Given that we’ve had the worst terrorist incident in Australian history in the last month, it’s clear that things need to change and security needs to change,” Minns said.

“I understand that there will be some people who will oppose this or see it as militarization of the police. I think a lot more families would fully support this type of police operation because they would feel a lot safer in that environment,” Minns added.

More than 1 million revelers flock to the beach every year to watch the world-famous fireworks display on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Minns said he was concerned that any reduction in crowd numbers would be interpreted by extremists as a victory.

“This is an opportunity to turn our noses up at the terrorists and their ideology that has us living at a ball instead of celebrating this beautiful city. So this is an opportunity for you to live your life and challenge that kind of ideology,” Minns said.

Bondi victims will be remembered with a minute’s silence at 11pm on Wednesday, and four images of the Jewish candelabra known as a menorah will be projected onto the bridge’s pillars, Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said.

Local government officials had planned to project an image of a dove with the word “peace” on it, but the idea was changed after consultation with Jewish representatives.

“I continue to listen to the community to ensure there is appropriate recognition of the horrific attack at Bondi Beach on New Year’s Eve,” Moore said in a statement.