Australian and Philippine authorities are investigating the November 2025 visit to the southern Philippines by the father-and-son suspects accused of carrying out a deadly mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025. The attack, which killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration, has been described by Australian officials as a terrorist act inspired by Islamic State ideology, evidenced by homemade IS flags and improvised explosives found in the suspects' vehicle. Philippine immigration records confirm that Sajid Akram, 50 (Indian national, killed at the scene), and Naveed Akram, 24 (Australian national, critically injured and charged with multiple offences, including murder and terrorism), arrived in the country on November 1 and departed on November 28. They listed Davao City on Mindanao Island as their final destination, staying primarily in a downtown budget hotel.

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated that the pair rarely left their hotel, venturing out only briefly and without interacting with others or receiving visitors. He emphasised no evidence of military training or contacts with militant groups, noting the short duration would not allow for structured preparation. Initial reports of "military-style training" from Australian sources have been dismissed by Philippine officials, with ongoing joint probes focusing on hotel records and movements confined to Davao. Analysts note that while Mindanao's interior provinces have hosted foreign extremists historically, urban Davao shows no signs of such activity in this case.

Mindanao, comprising the southern third of the Philippines, has a long history of Muslim separatist insurgencies dating back decades, fuelled by land disputes and marginalisation of the minority Muslim population in the predominantly Catholic nation. Conflicts since the 1970s have claimed around 150,000 lives, drawing occasional Al-Qaeda or IS-aligned foreign fighters for training or sanctuary. Notable past incidents include the 2017 Marawi siege by IS-linked militants and arrests of figures like Indonesian bomb-maker Umar Patek. Peace agreements in 1996 and 2014 granted broader Muslim autonomy in the Bangsamoro region, turning many rebels into administrators and weakening groups like Abu Sayyaf, largely neutralised by military operations.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh DRG Forces Kill Three Maoists, Including Woman in Sukma Encounter

Davao City serves as a major gateway to Mindanao's interior, but recent assessments indicate diminished foreign terrorist presence, with remaining violence tied more to local clan feuds or elections than international jihadism. Experts like Sidney Jones argue the region is no longer a prime destination for aspiring IS fighters due to setbacks for local affiliates.

The suspects' trip motives remain unclear, with no confirmed links to training camps or extremists. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the attack's IS inspiration based on seized evidence, while investigations continue into radicalisation paths.

This scrutiny revives attention to Mindanao's militant legacy, though officials stress no validated connections in this incident. Broader implications for regional security cooperation between Australia and the Philippines are emerging amid the probe. The case highlights ongoing challenges in tracking lone actors or small cells inspired by global ideologies.

Also Read: Delhi Students Up to Class 5 to Stay Online; SC Backs Government Decision Amid Air Pollution