mobile phone data suggests the Bondi Beach gunmen may have travelled near a region in the Philippines were Islamic State-aligned militants are believed to be operating, a police source has told the ABC.
It was believed that Sajid and Naveed Akram spent the majority of november in Davao, a city on the island of Mindanao that encompasses areas that have long been plagued by Islamic extremism.
But a senior Philippines police investigator,who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly comment,said the pair may have travelled beyond the city.
“We have also received data they [used a] cell phone in other areas of Mindanao. I think they were twice detected in other areas,” they told the ABC.
The police source said the phone was detected in M’lang in north Cotabato, a province that borders areas where Islamic extremists are still believed to be operating.
Shooters visited gun shop and beach resort, police say
While in Davao city, the gunmen visited locations including a gun shop, a beach resort and an ATM, the police source said.
One of the places they are believed to have visited was a local outlet of Shooters Guns & Ammo Corp, the largest gun retail franchise in the Philippines.
“They went to the gun store … the father was just looking around inside the store. They only visited there,” they said.
The gunmen also paid a visit to the Seagull White Sand Beach Resort – about 7.5 kilometres away from their hotel – as well as an RCBC bank ATM.
They also visited an Islamic center called the Mercy Islamic foundation, located about a 20-minute walk from the hotel they stayed at, the police source said.
“we are still trying to find out their activities … things that they are doing here in Davao City,” the source said.
“We’re checking the other areas that our sources said they went.”
Gunmen in Bondi Attack: Investigation Focuses on Philippines Trip
Police in the Philippines are investigating the 28-day visit of Sajid and Naveed Akram to the country in the weeks leading up to the Bondi Beach attack. The pair arrived on November 1st and departed on November 28th, primarily staying in Davao City, on the island of Mindanao.
According to reports, the Akrams resided at a budget hotel in Davao for the duration of their trip, rarely leaving their rooms, and frequently extending their stay by a week at a time. CCTV footage obtained by the ABC shows Naveed Akram walking near the hotel around 5 am on at least one occasion.
Initially, an Australian counterterrorism source suggested the possibility of “military-style training” during their time in the Philippines.Mindanao has a history of Islamic extremism, with remnants of groups formerly aligned with the Islamic State (ISIS) still present in provinces like Maguindanao del Sur and Lanao del sur. The gunmen’s mobile phone signal was detected in North Cotabato, a province situated between Davao City and these regions.
However, Philippine authorities have refuted claims that the region currently serves as an “ISIS training ground.”
Currently, investigators are exploring several possibilities regarding the purpose of the Akrams’ visit. A source stated, “Our initial assessment suggests they may have been visiting on holiday or waiting to meet someone. At this stage, these remain working theories that we are examining one by one.” The reason for their repeated extensions of their stay is also under scrutiny, with authorities seeking further information to determine their true intentions.
important Note: This response is based on the provided text and updated with current information as of today, February 29, 2024.The date in the original prompt (2025-12-24) was disregarded as it is in the future.