Bondi Beach Attack Suspects Traveled to Philippines Weeks Before Sydney Hanukkah Shooting, Australian Authorities Say
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA —Australian investigators have confirmed that the two men accused of carrying out the deadly Bondi Beach shooting during a Hanukkah celebration traveled to the Philippines in November, igniting intense scrutiny of possible international extremist links ahead of the attack that killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens more.
According to the Philippines Bureau of Immigration, suspects 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram arrived in Manila on Nov. 1, 2025 after departing Sydney, Australia. The pair then traveled to Davao City in southern Philippines, a region historically associated with Islamist militant groups, before returning to Australia on Nov. 28, just weeks before the fatal shooting at Bondi Beach.
Police Investigate Possible Training in Southern Philippines
Australian counterterrorism officials say the father-son duo’s trip to the Philippines is under active investigation as part of the probe into whether they received extremist or “military-style training” abroad prior to the massacre. Two homemade Islamic State flags and improvised explosive devices were found in the suspects’ vehicle after the attack, prompting authorities to examine potential links to Islamic State-inspired ideology.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the Bondi Beach attack as a “horrific act of antisemitism” and confirmed that early evidence indicates the shooters were motivated by Islamic State extremist beliefs, though there is no definitive proof yet of formal terrorist network training during their Philippines visit.
Deadly Hanukkah Massacre and Ongoing Investigation
On Dec. 14, the alleged attackers opened fire on a large crowd attending a Hanukkah event near Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring many others in what has been labeled the worst mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene by responding police, while his son Naveed survived but remains hospitalized with serious injuries and is expected to face multiple terrorism-related charges.
Police have charged Naveed Akram with dozens of offenses, including murder and committing a terrorist act, as the investigation continues. Authorities are working to determine whether the Philippines trip was solely for travel or involved contact with extremist elements.
Philippines Officials Deny Training Claims
VoxeNews espite Australian reports suggesting possible militant training, Philippine security officials and hotel staff in Davao City say the suspects spent most of their nearly month-long stay confined to their hotel, rarely interacting with others and showing no overtly suspicious behavior during their visit. Philippine military representatives have stressed that there is no credible evidence to confirm that the Akrams received any formal terror training while in the country.
Philippine government has also strongly refuted sweeping claims that its territory served as a training ground for the shooters, emphasizing that any allegations linking Filipino militant groups to the Bondi Beach suspects remain unverified.
Regional History of Extremism Under Review
Security experts acknowledge that regions in the southern Philippines — particularly parts of Mindanao — have, in the past, attracted small numbers of foreign fighters aligned with violent extremists such as Islamist separatists and affiliates of al-Qaida or Islamic State. However, decades of military operations have significantly weakened these groups, leaving their current ability to train foreign operatives unclear.
As authorities in both Australia and the Philippines continue to investigate, the father-son travel timeline and movements in Mindanao remain key pieces in understanding whether international extremist connections played a role in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
