Bondi shooting said to be ‘inspired by IS’ as police look into Philippines trip

The father and son duo allegedly behind the Bondi attack appear to have been inspired by Islamic State, the Australian prime minister said, as police confirmed that they were investigating why the pair travelled to the Philippines last month.

- Jordyn Beazley Nino Bucci Ariel Bogle

The New South Wales police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, yesterday said that Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father, Sajid, had recently travelled to the Philippines, which was confirmed by the authorities in Manila.

Lanyon also alleged that IEDs and two homemade IS flags were found in a car registered to Naveed that was parked at the scene of Sunday’s Hanukah festival shooting in Sydney.

“Thereasons why they went to the Philippines, and the purpose of that, and where they went when they were there, is under investigation at the moment,” Lanyon said.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, told reporters: “It would appear that there is evidence that this was [allegedly] inspired by a terrorist organisation, by Isis”.

It is alleged that the pair killed 15 people - with another 25 still in hospital as of yesterday - in the attack at the Sydney beach.

Albanese also met the man who tackled one of the shooters on Sunday, Ahmed al-Ahmed, 44, as he lay in a hospital bed recovering from his injuries.

“Your heart is strong, your courage is inspiring” Albanese said, shaking Ahmed’s right hand in a video posted to Instagram.