Father and son accused of killing 15 at Hanukkah festival spent November in the Philippines but rarely left the hotel, investigators say. Meanwhile, Sydney plans to deploy record number of police officers for New Year.
Australian police found no evidence that the two gunmen who killed 15 people in an antisemitic attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach belonged to a larger terrorist network, authorities said Tuesday.
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, spent most of November in Davao City in the southern Philippines before returning to Australia on 29 November, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
Two weeks later, the two attackers opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December, killing 15 people and wounding 40 others.
Philippine National Police determined the pair seldom left their hotel during their stay, Barrett said.
"There is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack," Barrett told reporters.
"These individuals are alleged to have acted alone. There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by others to carry out an attack," she added.
"However, I want to be clear, I am not suggesting that they were there for tourism."
Barrett declined to explain the purpose of their visit, which began 1 November.
Authorities believe the pair were inspired by the so-called Islamic State jihadist group. The southern Philippines previously attracted small numbers of foreign militants linked to IS or al-Qaida who trained alongside separatist groups fighting for autonomy in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Barrett said investigative details from the Philippines remained restricted to avoid prejudicing Naveed Akram's trial.
Naveed Akram has not yet entered pleas to dozens of charges including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Police shot him in the abdomen during an exchange of gunfire at Bondi Beach on 14 December. He spent a week in hospital before being transferred to prison. His father was killed at the scene.
'Things need to change'
Meanwhile, Sydney will deploy its largest ever police presence for New Year's Eve celebrations at Sydney Harbour on Wednesday, with more than 2,500 officers on duty. Many will carry automatic rifles, a rare sight on Sydney streets.
The first police responders at Bondi Beach carried Glock pistols that lacked the effective range of the Akrams' rifles and shotguns. Two police officers were among those wounded.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the state was not shifting towards a militarised police force in response to the attack.
"Given we've just had the worst terrorism event in Australia's history inside the last month, it would be self-evidently the case that things need to change and the security needs to change," Minns said.
"I understand that there'll be some people that oppose this or regard it as the militarisation of the police. My sense is far more families would fully support that kind of police operation because they will feel far safer in that environment."
More than 1 million people gather at the waterfront annually to watch a fireworks display centred on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Minns said he was concerned any decline in crowd numbers would be seen by extremists as a victory.
"It's an opportunity to thumb our nose at the terrorists and their ideology that really would have us living in a ball and not celebrating this beautiful city. So this is an opportunity to live your life and show defiance to that kind of ideology," Minns said.
The Bondi Beach victims will be commemorated with one minute of silence at 11 pm on Wednesday. Four images of a menorah will be projected on the bridge's pylons, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Local authorities initially planned to project images of a dove with the word "peace," but changed the plans after consulting with Jewish representatives.
"I continue to listen to the community to ensure the acknowledgement of the horrific attack at Bondi Beach during New Year's Eve is appropriate," Moore said in a statement.