Bondi Beach Shooting Suspects Linked to Month-Long Trip to Southern Philippines

Australian police are examining new details about the Bondi Beach shooting after officials confirmed that the suspects, Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, travelled to the southern Philippines weeks before the attack. The Bondi Beach shooting killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event in Sydney on Sunday. The pair returned to Australia just two weeks before the attack.

Philippines immigration officials confirmed the travel dates. According to Reuters, the duo arrived in Davao City on November 1 and left on November 28. Their visit raised concern because the region has long been linked to militant activity.

Bondi Beach Shooting: New Details From Travel Records

The Bondi Beach shooting has gained global attention as investigators trace the suspects’ movements. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, 24-year-old Naveed, stayed in Davao City for nearly a month. Officials said the two travelled from Sydney to Manila and then to Davao on the same Philippine Airlines flight.

They left the Philippines on November 28 and returned to Sydney. This was less than two weeks before the mass shooting at Bondi Beach on December 14. According to Reuters, both men listed Davao as their destination, but officials have no record of their activities while in the country.

The southern Philippines has been known as a base for Islamic State-linked groups. Mindanao has seen years of unrest from separatists, jihadist cells, and criminal groups. Experts told media outlets that the area has long attracted foreign extremists because of its remote terrain.

Sajid was shot dead during a firefight with Australian police at Bondi Beach. Naveed was injured and remains under police guard in a Sydney hospital.

Why the Davao Trip Matters to Investigators

Officials are focused on the month-long stay because the southern Philippines has a long history of militant training sites. In 2017, Islamic State fighters held the city of Marawi under siege for five months. The region also hosts smaller armed groups linked to IS, including Abu Sayyaf and the Maute Group.

Security experts told The Sydney Morning Herald that small extremist groups still operate in remote areas. They say the terrain and weak local control have helped them survive. A U.S. State Department report said the region remains a destination for foreign fighters from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The Philippine military says many large groups have been weakened by raids and surrenders. But some factions still hold influence in Mindanao. These details have added urgency to the investigation into the Bondi Beach shooting.

Thought you’d like to know-

Q1: What is known about the Bondi Beach shooting?

It was a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney. Fifteen people were killed and 42 were injured. Police shot Sajid Akram, while Naveed Akram survived.

Q2: Why is the Philippines trip important?

The suspects stayed in a region linked to militant activity. Officials are checking if the trip influenced their actions. No activity during the stay has been confirmed.

Q3: When did the suspects return to Australia?

They left the Philippines on November 28. They returned to Sydney soon after. The shooting happened about two weeks later.

Q4: Is southern Philippines still linked to militant groups?

Some groups remain active according to military sources. Most have been weakened but not removed. The terrain makes it easy for small cells to hide.

Q5: What killed Sajid Akram?

He died in a shootout with police at the scene. Officers responded quickly to stop the attack. His son was taken alive to a hospital.