Key Takeaways:
- The Bondi Beach gunmen, Naveed and Sajid Akram, spent most of their 27-day trip to the Philippines in a small hotel in Davao, barely leaving their room.
- The pair stayed at the GV Hotel, a cash-only establishment, and paid 930 pesos ($24) per night for a simple room with two single beds, a TV, and a basic bathroom.
- Hotel staff reported that the Akrams only left the hotel for one to two hours a day, and the father always wore sunglasses when going outside.
- The staff did not find anything suspicious about the pair, but noted that they were not approachable and barely talked to them.
- The hotel’s CCTV footage was seized by police, but the system was on a seven-day loop, and the vision from November had already been overwritten.
Introduction to the Incident
The Bondi Beach gunmen, Naveed and Sajid Akram, spent most of their November trip to the Philippines in a small hotel in the city of Davao, barely leaving their room, according to local staff. The father-son duo travelled to the Philippines on November 1 and departed on November 28, just weeks before the attack. It is believed that they travelled to Davao, the biggest city on the island of Mindanao, a region that has been challenged by Islamic extremism. The GV Hotel, where the Akrams stayed, is located in downtown Davao, near the city hall and the police station.
The Hotel Stay
Staff at the GV Hotel told the ABC that the two gunmen stayed there for the entire 27 days, and that the room was booked on November 1, when the pair walked in. A copy of Naveed and Sajid Akram’s passports was not taken because it was not required to book a room at this hotel. The hotel is cash-only, and staff said they did not have their copy of the receipt still on the premises. The hotel’s manager, Jenelyn, said that the suspects did not leave the city, as they were in their room the whole 27 days, and the longest they left the hotel was between one to two hours.
Staff Interactions with the Akrams
Hotel staff said that the Akrams only left the hotel for one to two hours a day, and that the father would always wear sunglasses when going outside. The staff did not find anything suspicious about the pair, but noted that they were not approachable and barely talked to them. Angelica, a 20-year-old staff member, said that the Akrams barely talked to her, and that they didn’t look suspicious. However, she did notice that they were not like other guests, who would often come and talk to her at the front desk.
Discovery of the Akrams’ Identity
Angelica recounted finding out about the attack, saying that her manager told her that the Akrams were wanted. She searched for them on Google and TikTok and recognised them. Local media reported that the only items housekeeping staff found while the Akrams were staying there were "rubbish from fast food restaurants". At one point, MindaNews reported, the son asked staff where he could buy a durian. The hotel’s CCTV footage was seized by police, but the system was on a seven-day loop, and the vision from November had already been overwritten.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation into the Bondi Beach shooting is ongoing, and the discovery of the Akrams’ stay at the GV Hotel has provided valuable insights into their activities leading up to the attack. The fact that they barely left their room and were not approachable has raised questions about their intentions and motivations. The hotel’s staff have cooperated fully with the authorities, providing information and evidence that may aid in the investigation. As the inquiry continues, it is likely that more details will emerge about the Akrams’ stay in the Philippines and their activities in the lead-up to the shooting.
Conclusion
The stay of the Bondi Beach gunmen, Naveed and Sajid Akram, at the GV Hotel in Davao, Philippines, has provided a glimpse into their activities leading up to the attack. The fact that they barely left their room and were not approachable has raised questions about their intentions and motivations. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and it is likely that more details will emerge about the Akrams’ stay in the Philippines and their activities in the lead-up to the shooting. The discovery of the Akrams’ stay at the GV Hotel has highlighted the importance of international cooperation and information sharing in preventing and investigating terrorist attacks.
