Key Takeaways
- Sajid Akram and his son Naveed visited the Philippines before allegedly killing 15 people and wounding dozens of others at a Hanukah celebration in Sydney.
- The pair stayed in a hotel in Davao City for four weeks, during which time Sajid Akram visited a firearms shop.
- Authorities are investigating the pair’s movements and activities during their stay in the Philippines, including their contacts and support networks.
- The Philippines is working with the Australian government to help investigate the mass shooting and eliminate any potential terrorist threats.
- The investigation is ongoing, with authorities rushing to obtain CCTV footage and gather intelligence information.
Introduction to the Investigation
The Philippines police have revealed that one of the alleged Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram, visited a firearms shop during his visit to the country. This new information has sparked an investigation into the pair’s movements and activities during their four-week stay in Davao City. Sajid Akram and his son Naveed arrived in the Philippines and stayed in a hotel, where they reportedly holed up for most of their time in the country. The pair returned to Australia on November 28, just two weeks before they allegedly carried out the mass shooting at a Hanukah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 people and wounding dozens of others.
The Pair’s Movements and Activities
According to police regional director Leon Victor Rosete, the pair’s movements outside the GV hotel, where they stayed, have become a key part of the investigation. Authorities are also investigating the mobile numbers they used during their stay, as well as their contacts and support networks. Rosete revealed that Sajid Akram had shown interest in firearms and had entered a firearms shop located in the city. Additionally, CCTV footage shows the two men engaging in a "jog walk" that lasted about an hour around the vicinity of the hotel, which appears to be some form of physical conditioning exercise. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to gather intelligence information and patch together all the available information.
The Hotel Stay and Extensions
One hotel worker, Jenelyn Sayson, reported that the Akrams initially booked a seven-night stay online but requested extensions on arrival and continued to extend their stay until checking out on November 28. The two arrived carrying one big piece of luggage and a backpack, according to Sayson, who served them during their stay. This information has raised questions about why the pair repeatedly extended their stay, and whether they may have been waiting for something or someone to arrive. A security official leading the investigation noted that they might have waited for someone who never came, but emphasized the need to be evidence-based and not speculative.
The Investigation and Cooperation with Australia
The Philippines is working closely with the Australian government to help investigate the mass shooting and eliminate any potential terrorist threats. National security adviser Eduardo Año stated that the country will "ensure that there is no stone left unturned" in the investigation. Authorities are rushing to obtain CCTV footage from establishments before they delete their records, as the GV hotel overrides its CCTV footage after a week. Año emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries, stating that they want to help the Australian government and ensure that any possible terrorist threat in the Philippines is eliminated.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The investigation into the alleged Bondi beach shooters is ongoing, with authorities working to gather intelligence information and piece together the pair’s movements and activities during their stay in the Philippines. The visit to the firearms shop and the pair’s repeated extensions of their hotel stay are just a few of the many factors being investigated. As the Philippines continues to work with the Australian government, it is clear that the country is committed to helping investigate the mass shooting and eliminating any potential terrorist threats. The investigation is a complex and ongoing process, and it will likely take time to uncover all the facts and determine the motives behind the alleged shooters’ actions.