Sunday’s attack was Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years and is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community.
The death toll rose to 16, including one of the alleged attackers, identified by police as Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot by police. His 24-year-old son and alleged accomplice, identified by local media as Naveed Akram, was in critical condition in hospital after he was also shot.
Australian police said on Tuesday that both men had traveled to the Philippines last month and that the purpose of the trip was under investigation. Philippine police said they were investigating the case.
Networks linked to the Islamic State are known to operate in the Philippines and have some influence in the south of the country. In recent years, they have been reduced to weakened cells operating on the southern island of Mindanao, far from the scale of influence they had during the 2017 Marawi siege.
– Initial indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State, which was allegedly committed by a father and son – said Krissy Barrett, Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, at a press conference.
– These are the alleged actions of those who connected with a terrorist organization, not with religion – she said.
Police also said the vehicle, which was registered to a younger man, contained improvised explosive devices and two handmade flags linked to ISIS, or Islamic State, a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by Australia and many other countries.
The father and son reportedly shot hundreds of people at the festival during a roughly 10-minute killing spree at one of Australia’s top tourist destinations, forcing people to run for cover before police shot them dead.
About 25 survivors are receiving care at several Sydney hospitals, officials said.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
