Philippines Authorities Update on Bondi Beach Gunman’s Movements as Terror Training Questions Emerge

Philippine authorities have revealed new details about the movements of the father-son duo accused in the deadly Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack during their month-long stay in the Philippines.

The suspects spent nearly all of November in the country, primarily in Davao City, according to Philippine police and hotel staff. Investigators noted that the pair rarely left their hotel room except for brief outings of an hour or so, and they reportedly never engaged with other guests or received visitors during their stay.

The Philippines Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the two suspects arrived in the country on November 1, traveling aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 from Sydney to Manila before making their way to Davao. They departed on November 28, less than three weeks before allegedly carrying out the attack in Sydney that left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured.

While speculation has emerged that the suspects may have traveled to the Philippines to receive training from Islamist groups known to operate in the region, authorities have pushed back against these assertions. However, the investigation into their activities during this period remains active.

Davao City is located on Mindanao island, a region with a complex security situation. The U.S. State Department currently lists much of Mindanao under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory, though Davao City itself is designated as an exception to this warning. The State Department notes that “terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks,” often targeting foreign nationals.

The region has a troubled history with extremist violence. In 2017, Islamic State-inspired militants stormed Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province in the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao. The siege displaced approximately 350,000 residents and resulted in more than 1,100 deaths, primarily militants. Marawi currently remains under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory.

Security experts from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) note that while the influence and strength of Islamic State-aligned groups has waned in recent years, the Philippine military continues to have occasional confrontations with remnants of these organizations.

The Bondi Beach attack unfolded on Sunday when gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration. The older suspect, who was the father of the younger gunman, died at the scene. The 24-year-old surviving suspect has been charged with 59 offenses, including terrorism, murder, and attempted murder.

New South Wales Police announced the extensive charges against the younger suspect on Wednesday. These include “commit terrorist act,” 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of “cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder,” “discharge firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” “cause public display of prohibited terrorist organization symbol” and “place explosive in/near building with intent to cause harm.”

Authorities confirmed that the accused gunman remains hospitalized under police guard while the investigation continues. The attack has shocked Australia and the international community, prompting an outpouring of grief at memorial sites established near Bondi Beach.

The incident has heightened security concerns across Australia and sparked renewed discussion about international terrorism networks and their potential connections to lone-wolf or small-cell attacks. Security agencies from multiple countries are now collaborating to trace the suspects’ movements and communications in the weeks leading up to the attack.