Bondi Beach attack probe: Father entered Philippines as ‘Indian national’

Authorities in Manila confirmed on Tuesday that the father, who entered the country as an “Indian national,” spent almost the whole month of November in the Philippines with his son, who is reportedly responsible for one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings.

On November 1, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed entered the country with the southern province of Davao stated as their final destination. At a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, they are accused of killing fifteen people and injuring dozens more.

“Sajid Akram, 50, an Indian national, and Naveed Akram, 24, an Australian national, arrived in the Philippines together last November 1, 2025, from Sydney, Australia,” Dana Sandoval, an immigration spokeswoman, added to AFP.

Reporters were previously informed by military and police sources that they were still verifying the two’s existence in the nation.

Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, stated on Tuesday that “Daesh ideology” had probably radicalized the two individuals.

On the eastern side of Mindanao, the largest southern island in the Philippines, sits a sizable metropolis called Davao. It is known that armed organizations operate in central and southwestern Mindanao’s economically underprivileged regions.

Although previous reports suggested otherwise, the Philippine military stated it was unable to quickly confirm accusations that the two people had received “military-style training” while in the nation.

Insurgencies against central government power have also long existed in Mindanao.

In 2017, Abu Sayyaf and pro-Daesh Maute militants, including both foreign and local fighters, besieged Marawi in Mindanao.

After a five-month conflict that left hundreds of thousands of people displaced and killed over 1,000, the Philippine military retook the destroyed city.

The Philippine army still pursues leaders of organizations thought to be”terrorists,”” even though insurgent activity in Mindanao has considerably decreased in the years since.