Alleged Bondi gunmen did not train in the Philippines and acted alone, police say

An investigation into the Sydney Hanukkah festival shooting found no evidence that suspects Sajid and Naveed Akram were part of a broader terrorist cell.

The father and son spent most of November in the Philippines, where police determined they did not receive training or logistical support for the attack.

Authorities allege the pair acted alone and were inspired by the Islamic State, with Sajid killed during the Bondi attack and Naveed hospitalized after being shot by police; he has yet to enter pleas to multiple charges including murder and terrorism.

New South Wales is deploying over 2,500 officers, many armed with automatic rifles, for New Year’s Eve at Sydney Harbor, emphasizing public safety without militarizing the police, CNN has reported.

The victims will be commemorated with a minute of silence and menorah projections on the Sydney Harbor Bridge during the celebrations.