Australian authorities are currently probing the recent visit of Naveed and Sajid Akram to the Philippines before carrying out a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in Australia. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon disclosed that the Akram family members underwent military-style training in the southern regions of the Philippines. Upon their return to Sydney, they executed the attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi. The investigation revealed that the younger male’s vehicle, registered to him, contained improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two homemade ISIS flags.
The Philippines has been a known hub for Islamist militants since the 1990s, hosting terrorist training camps. Lanyon acknowledged an oversight by the NSW Police in granting a firearms license to Sajid Akram, stating that the license application was incomplete and had lapsed in 2016. Despite this, a second firearms license was issued to Akram, prompting internal scrutiny within the police force.
Premier Chris Minns responded sharply to questions about the police response to the terror attack, defending the officers’ actions during the incident. As investigations continue, Australians mourn the loss of 15 lives in the devastating mass shooting, marking it as the nation’s second-deadliest attack.