Australian authorities are examining an overseas trip taken by the two men accused of carrying out the deadly Bondi Beach shooting, as investigators widen their focus beyond events on the day of the attack.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that the father and son travelled to the Philippines roughly a month before the mass shooting, prompting questions about whether the journey had any relevance to their actions upon returning to Australia. The trip has become a specific line of inquiry within the broader counter-terrorism investigation now underway.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding that travel, including its timing, locations visited, and intent.
“The reasons why they went to the Philippines, and the purpose of that, and where they went, is under investigation at the moment,” Lanyon told reporters.
The overseas visit is being reviewed alongside other background factors as authorities assess possible radicalisation pathways, associations, and preparatory steps taken by the suspects before the attack, which police have classified as terrorism-related.
Investigators have already confirmed that the assault, which occurred during a public gathering at Bondi Beach, resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, and involved legally held firearms. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son survived and remains under guard in hospital.
Officials have not indicated whether the Philippines trip uncovered links to individuals or groups of interest, stressing that the inquiry is ongoing and that no conclusions have yet been drawn.
