New details have emerged about the activities of the alleged Bondi beach shooters during their four-week stay in the Philippines prior to the Sydney mass shooting. Local police have confirmed that one of the men visited a firearms shop, as investigators work to reconstruct their movements.
Four-Week Stay in Davao City Hotel
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, stayed at the GV hotel in Davao City for the entirety of their time in the country. According to hotel staff, the pair initially booked a seven-night stay online but repeatedly requested extensions upon arrival. They finally checked out on 28 November, just two weeks before the attack in Australia.
Jenelyn Sayson, a front desk staff member who served them, told the Guardian they arrived with one large piece of luggage and a backpack. Their prolonged stay, with continual extensions, has become a key line of inquiry for officials investigating whether they were waiting for someone or something.
Firearms Interest and 'Physical Conditioning'
Police Regional Director Leon Victor Rosete stated that the investigation is centring on the pair's movements outside the hotel. "The father has shown interest in firearms. He entered a firearms shop," Rosete revealed, confirming the store was located within Davao City.
Authorities are also examining CCTV footage which shows the two men on what Rosete described as a 'jog walk' lasting about an hour in the vicinity of the GV hotel. This activity, which took place near where they stayed, appeared to be a form of "physical conditioning."
"We are patching together all the information. We are now connecting the dots," Rosete said, adding that police are investigating the mobile numbers they used and their local contacts to determine their activities and support networks.
Race Against Time for Evidence
Investigators are urgently gathering CCTV footage from local establishments before records are automatically deleted. Staff at the GV hotel confirmed they override their CCTV system after just one week, highlighting the time-sensitive nature of the probe.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año pledged that the Philippines would "ensure that there is no stone left unturned" in assisting the Australian government. "We want to help the Australian government and at the same time ensure that any possible terrorist threat in our country is eliminated," Año stated, confirming he is in direct contact with authorities in Canberra.
Año cautioned against speculation, emphasising an evidence-based approach. He confirmed that the pair did not visit any firing range in Davao during their visit and remained in the city for the duration of their stay.
In Australia, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the Bondi scene. Naveed Akram faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder, related to the attack at a Hanukkah celebration which left 15 people dead and dozens wounded.
