Authorities in the Davao Region are actively coordinating with counterparts in Cotabato province following a significant lead in the international investigation into the Bondi Beach mass shooting. This development comes after mobile phone signals linked to the two primary suspects were detected in the Mindanao area.
Signal Detection and Ongoing Validation
The Police Regional Office–Davao Region (PRO-Davao) revealed that signals from the phones belonging to 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram were picked up in Cotabato province. PRO-Davao spokesperson, Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, stated that this intelligence is currently being rigorously validated with local authorities in Cotabato to determine if the individuals physically traveled there.
During a media interview on Monday, January 5, 2025, Dela Rey emphasized the complexity of the tracing process. She explained that backtracking the suspects' movements is time-consuming, compounded by challenges such as erased CCTV footage. The exact time and date when the signals appeared in Cotabato have not been publicly disclosed for operational reasons.
Clarifying Activities in Davao Region
Major Dela Rey also addressed and corrected several circulating reports regarding the suspects' activities during their stay in the Philippines. She firmly denied claims that the two men purchased a firearm from a gun shop in Davao City. Investigators confirmed they only visited the establishment, and shop personnel provided CCTV footage of that visit to the police.
Furthermore, the PRO-Davao spokesperson explicitly stated that the Akrams did not undergo any form of military-style or firearms training in Davao City. "There is no training area in Davao, and they did not undergo training," Dela Rey asserted. This conclusion was reached after coordination with local firing ranges yielded no records or video evidence of the suspects practicing with firearms.
Reports of a visit to Panabo City have also not been validated. Authorities note that such a visit would likely have generated photographic evidence or witnesses, similar to their documented time in Davao City.
International Cooperation and Timeline
The investigation has seen close collaboration between Philippine and Australian authorities. Dela Rey confirmed that Australian personnel were present in Davao City for several days to assist in tracing the suspects' precise movements and contacts. While their specific agency was not named, their work focused on mapping the individuals' activities and assessing any potential plans developed during their stay.
The Akrams entered the Philippines from Sydney, Australia, on November 1, 2025, and departed on November 28. For most of their 28-day visit, they remained largely confined to a hotel in Davao City with minimal interaction with the public. They are now accused of carrying out a deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, which resulted in at least 15 fatalities and 42 injuries.
The PRO-Davao continues its backtracking investigation and awaits further feedback from intelligence units in Cotabato to rule out the possibility of a technological glitch and confirm whether the phone signal detection points to an actual physical presence of the suspects in the province.
