[Sydney Shooting] Australian Prime Minister: Gunmen May Have Been Driven by Extremist Ideology

Australian Prime Minister Albanese stated on the 16th that the father and son who carried out the Sydney Bondi Beach shooting may have been driven by ISIS extremist ideology.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Albanese said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that based on current information, the shooting, which targeted a Jewish festival event, was carried out independently by two suspects and is considered a “terrorist act.” The investigation is ongoing, and the government will continue to update the public on its progress.

On the 15th, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited a senior official from Australia's Joint Counter Terrorism Team, who wished to remain anonymous, as saying that police found an ISIS flag inside the car of the two Bondi Beach gunmen. The official added that, six years ago, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had been investigating one of the Bondi Beach shooters, Naveed Akram, who had close ties with ISIS terrorists in Sydney.

In response, Albanese explained that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had investigated Naveed Akram at the time because of his links to certain individuals, two of whom were later prosecuted and imprisoned, but Naveed Akram was not identified as a key person of interest at the time. Whether or not he became further radicalized after that is still under investigation.

2 Suspects Traveled to the Philippines This November

On the 16th, Australian media quoted New South Wales police who said that the two suspects behind the Sydney Bondi Beach shooting—24-year-old Naveed Akram and 50-year-old Syed Akram—had traveled to the Philippines this November and only returned to Australia a few weeks before the attack. Police are investigating their whereabouts and motives during the trip to the Philippines. It is understood that the Abu Sayyaf group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS, has long been active in the southern Philippines.

The shooting on the 14th resulted in 16 deaths, including one perpetrator, and 40 injuries.