Mal Lanyon, a New South Wales police official, stated at a press conference today that the vehicle was found near the Sydney beach. It was registered under the name of Naveed Akram, one of the two shooting suspects. Police discovered two homemade flags of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) along with improvised explosive devices inside the car.

Naveed, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, are the two suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting on 14/12/2024, which killed 15 people and injured dozens. Police fatally shot Sajid at the scene, while Naveed was injured and transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Police are investigating why the two suspects traveled to the Philippines one month before the shooting.

"We are determining the purpose of their trip and their exact destination," Lanyon said.

Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, father and son, during the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney on 14/12/2024. Photo: News.com.au

According to Lanyon, Sajid legally owned 6 firearms and was a member of a recreational shooting club. His gun license was issued in 2023, not 2015, as police initially reported.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously stated that Naveed Akram came under the scrutiny of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 10/2019. Naveed was investigated for 6 months on allegations of connections to individuals linked to a small IS group, according to ABC.

"Two people connected to him were charged and sentenced to prison, but at that time, he was not considered a threat," he said.

The Australian leader also noted that while the suspects were motivated by extremist ideology, "there is no evidence they were members of a terrorist group." Police seized multiple weapons from the suspects' home in Bonnyrigg and a property they rented in Campsie.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, SMH)