The devastating mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which tragically claimed 15 lives and is now being investigated as a targeted act of terrorism, has taken a significant international turn. Philippine immigration authorities have confirmed that the two alleged gunmen visited the Philippines just weeks before the horrific attack.
Sajid Akram, 50, an Indian national and Australian resident, along with his son, Naveed Akram, 24, an Australian citizen, arrived together in Manila on November 1st last year. They traveled on Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 from Sydney, continuing onward to Davao, a major city in the southern Philippines. After nearly a month, they departed on November 28th, returning to Sydney on the same flight number. Crucially, this extensive trip concluded well before the April assault that shocked Australia and the world.
The purpose of their stay in the Philippines remains a central mystery for investigators. Davao is located in Mindanao, a region that has unfortunately seen activity from various extremist groups, including factions linked to ISIS. The Philippines has a history of battling such elements, notably during the five-month siege of Marawi in 2017. This regional context immediately raises serious questions given the terrorism investigation into the Sydney shooting.
Philippine military officials are actively validating these travel reports and coordinating closely with international agencies. The focus is on understanding the movements of these individuals and exploring any potential ties to extremist networks during their visit. This revelation adds a complex and deeply concerning international dimension to an already somber investigation. As authorities in both Australia and the Philippines work to unravel these critical threads, the global implications of such tragic events become ever clearer.
