Sydney Attack: Training in the Philippines... Evidence of Links to ISIS Ideology

SadaNews - Security sources informed the Australian ABC network that the perpetrators of the Sydney attack recently underwent military training in the Philippines, where ISIS has been active for years. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explained that the suspects returned from the Philippines last month, but the nature of their activities there is still unclear, according to SadaNews translations.

The Philippine immigration authority, as translated by SadaNews, confirmed that the attackers entered the country on November 1 and left on November 28. The father, aged 50, entered with an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian passport.

Police added that initial investigations indicate that the two gunmen (a man and his son) may have drawn inspiration from ISIS ideologies, noting that they found bombs and two homemade ISIS flags in a vehicle used by one of the men.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon explained to reporters that the car found near Sydney beach is registered in the name of the son and contains "two homemade ISIS flags" along with explosives.

The man and his son opened fire on hundreds of people during the Hanukkah celebration held on Sunday at Bondi Beach, resulting in the death of 16 people, including the 50-year-old gunman who was shot by the police, while the second gunman, aged 24, has been arrested and is now in critical condition in the hospital.

The police have not disclosed the suspects' names, but the official "ABC" channel and other media revealed their names, which are Sajid Akram, who was killed in the attack, and his son Navid.