The two suspected gunmen who carried out the fatal incident at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives, reportedly operated independently, per Australian police.
Authorities further stated that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary involved landing in the capital Manila before connecting that same day to Davao City. The father and son flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
Authorities assert the individuals did not receive any type of terrorist coaching or "planning" during their stay in the Philippines. Early findings from local authorities point to they "mostly stayed in" their accommodation.
The attack—described as Australia's most severe mass shooting since 1996—has been formally classified as a act of terrorism.
"Our teams are actively examining the footage," the commissioner said, adding that initial reviews indicate that "the alleged offenders are suspected to have operated independently."
National law enforcement Commissioner Krissy Barrett briefed reporters on Tuesday that surveillance material documenting the accused attackers' whereabouts in the Philippines had been submitted to domestic investigators.
"Our investigation shows little to no indication to suggest these accused individuals were affiliated with a larger organization, or were instructed by others to perpetrate an act of violence," the police chief said.
However, the pair were likewise not in the Philippines as tourists, Commissioner Barrett added. She underscored that, since the investigation is still active, new evidence could come to light.
Earlier, the nation's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked it looks as though both alleged attackers were "influenced by the so-called Islamic State" beliefs.
During the incident, Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying rifles—are accused of having opened fire on attendees at the Jewish festival celebration.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been formally accused of 59 charges. These include 15 charges of murder and one count of carrying out a terrorist act. He is expected to face court in April.
In the aftermath following the attack, immigration officials in the Philippines reported that the father had entered the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an Australian passport.
The duo had declared the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Their pre-arranged journey back to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a large metropolis on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. It is noted that, Militant militants have been known to be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
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