Authorities are investigating the travel history of a man involved in a recent attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, after he and his son spent several weeks in the Philippines prior to the incident. The pair arrived in the Philippines on November 1 and departed on November 28, according to the country’s immigration bureau.
Bondi Beach Attack: Travel to the Philippines Under Scrutiny
The man, identified as Sajid, travelled with an Indian passport, while his son used Australian identification, authorities said. Security sources cited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported the pair may have been receiving “military-style training” during their time in the Philippines, though officials have not confirmed these reports.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro and her Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, have agreed to maintain close communication regarding developments in the investigation, Lazaro stated in a text message to the media.
According to ABC reporting, Naveed Akram was previously investigated for potential ties to a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell. IS is an extremist Islamist militant group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks globally, including the 2015 Paris attacks.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Akram first came to the attention of authorities in 2019 due to associations with others. However, an assessment at that time indicated “no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”
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