Father-son duo of Indian origin ‘received military-style training’ in the Philippines
A screenshot of a user-generated video shows beachgoers fleeing Sydney’s Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire. Photo: AFP
The father-son duo, suspected of instigating the deadly attack on Jews attending a religious festival on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, had received “military-style training” in the Philippines, where they spent most of November, Australian public broadcaster reported. ABC reported, citing security sources.
At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured when Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram went on a rampage during Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Sajid was later killed during a police operation.
According to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, the two men had listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination during their visit. Philippine authorities have rejected claims that the two men underwent any form of militant training during their stay in the country.
Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro, citing a National Security Council statement, said there were “no validated reports or confirmation that the individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines.” AFP reported.
Read: Australia charges Bondi Beach shooter with murder, terrorism
“The government strongly rejects this sweeping statement and the misleading characterization of the Philippines as an IS training hotspot,” Castro said, adding that militant groups in Mindanao are currently fragmented and significantly degraded, while acknowledging the region’s long history of conflict and the presence of residual armed elements.
The attackers’ ties to the Philippines have resurrected the specter of Abu Sayyaf, the jihadist organization known for its kidnappings, beheadings and past alignment with Islamic State affiliates in Southeast Asia.
Although sustained counterterrorism efforts have degraded the Abu Sayyaf group, analysts warn that its legacy of fostering militant networks keeps Mindanao vulnerable to transnational extremist influence, according to Conflict Monitor, a weekly online newsletter offering rigorous analysis of terrorism, political violence and emerging conflict hotspots around the world.
“Abu Sayyaf is not a hypothetical threat. This is a group with a proven track record of mass kidnappings, beheadings and assassinations of international hostages, operating precisely in spaces where state control has historically been weakest,” says Dr. Manzar Zaidi, a security analyst specializing in the analysis of radical groups.
“If there were to be radicalized Australians seeking mentorship from a violent group nearby, this would be a prime candidate,” adds Dr Zaidi, also the founder of Conflict Monitor.
The Abu Sayyaf group was founded by Filipino Islamist activist Khadaffy Abubakar Janjalani who mixed Salafi-jihadi ideology with the grievances of local Tausug separatists against Filipino Christian settlers, states Conflict Monitor.
“Unlike the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Abu Sayyaf advocated the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. Early funding came from Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law, Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, establishing direct ties to Al-Qaeda. This ideological foundation fused international jihadist theology with local ethnic and religious tensions, creating a powerful militant organization.”
Abu Sayyaf exploits poverty, unemployment and educational deficits in Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “Recruitment generally targets young men from fishing and farming communities with limited economic opportunities,” they add. “Economic desperation often trumps ideological commitment to maintaining the group’s workforce.”
Learn more: Filipino militant group Abu Sayyaf: who are they?
According to the Associated Press Counter-Terrorism Analysis, Abu Sayyaf kidnapped several hostages from the resort town of Dos Palmas, including American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, in May 2001. The prolonged captivity ended with the death of Martin Burnham during a rescue operation, sending shockwaves globally. This incident marked the beginning of direct U.S. military involvement in the Philippines’ counterterrorism efforts and elevated the Abu Sayyaf group to the highest ranking of international terrorist threats.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Bondi attack was motivated by Islamic State ideology. “It would appear that this is motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State,” he said. “The ideology that has existed for over a decade has led to this ideology of hatred, and in this case, a willingness to engage in mass murder. »
Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, former leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, pledged allegiance to ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014 and was appointed emir for Southeast Asia. According to the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, this affiliation brought new funding, recruiting propaganda and foreign jihadist volunteers.
“Integration into the global structure of the Islamic State has strengthened the legitimacy, resources and operational orientations of Abu Sayyaf, transforming a regional insurgency into a node of international terrorist networks,” he adds.
“Abu Sayyaf’s lethality lies not only in its brutality but also in its adaptability. From the Dos Palmas massacre to its formal alignment with ISIS, the group has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to absorb global jihadist currents while sustaining local violence through ransom economies and maritime terrorism. Indoctrinating foreigners is not too serious a problem for such a group.”
Of the group’s current leadership, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism says Radullan Sahiron – now wheelchair-bound – remains the Abu Sayyaf’s top commander, controlling operations on Sulu Island. It maintains its influence through kinship and tribal networks. His faction prioritizes kidnap-for-ransom activities over ideological terrorism, reflecting a model of pragmatic criminal leadership focused on financial viability.
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The Abu Sayyaf Group’s maritime operations span millions of square kilometers across the Sulu and Celebes Seas, based on a regional maritime security assessment presented at a recent meeting of ASEAN defense ministers.
“Hundreds of maritime workers have been kidnapped, disrupting regional shipping routes. Insurance premiums for ships transiting these waters have risen sharply, creating a regional security crisis that is affecting international trade and requiring coordinated multinational responses,” it added.
The Philippine military has deployed tens of thousands of troops to Mindanao in sustained counterterrorism operations. The dense jungle and networks of local supporters provide an effective sanctuary for activists. Although hundreds of Abu Sayyaf fighters have been killed, the core leadership remains intact, highlighting the continuing challenges of counterinsurgency warfare.
The Philippine Anti-Cybercrime Group says the group uses encrypted messaging apps and social media for recruitment and coordination. “Propaganda videos are being used to intimidate local populations, while cryptocurrency transactions have appeared in ransom negotiations. Digital tools have expanded the group’s reach, requiring advanced cyber-counterterrorism capabilities,” it adds in its latest assessment of digital terrorism.
Although it is not yet fully established whether Bondi’s attackers, of Indian origin, received militant training in the Philippines, Dr Zaidi says he would not be surprised if the link to the Abu Sayyaf group was established.
“If it ever turns out that the Bondi attackers sought to condition their ideology or expose themselves to tactics in Southeast Asia, Abu Sayyaf remains the most plausible suspect – not because of conjecture, but because of its long-standing role as one of the most violent and internationally connected militant organizations in the region,” he adds.
