Bondi shooters motivated by 'Islamic State ideology,' says PM
by Darryl Coote · UPIDec. 15 (UPI) -- The father-son duo who killed 15 people and injured 40 others in Sunday's Bondi Beach shooting were motivated by "Islamic State ideology," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday, as the investigation continues and questions swirl around what happened.
"It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology," the prime minister said in a Tuesday morning interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sydney. "The ideology that has been around for more than a decade that led to this ideology of hate, and in this case, a preparedness to engage in mass murder."
The 50-year-old father and 24-year-old son opened fire on crowds at the iconic Australian tourist destination on Sunday afternoon, killing 15 people and injuring 40 others, with many remaining hospitalized as of Tuesday.
The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son is in serious but stable condition in the hospital.
Six weapons have been confiscated in connection with the crime as well as three explosive devices.
Albanese told ABC Sydney that the shooting, which is being investigated as a terrorist attack, was planned well in advance, targeting the Jewish community during Hanukkah. Two residences have been searched in connection with the shooting, one in Bonnyrigg and another in Campsie. The Campsie location was rented to stage the attack, the prime minister said.
He said they had planned to station themselves on a bridge to give them a higher vantage point on their targets.
"This was a meticulous, calculated, cold-blooded attack," he said.
The father has been identified as having arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was then transferred to a partner visa in 2001. The son is an Australian-born citizen, whom authorities have said first came to their attention in October 2019 over the people he associated with but there was no indication he posed a threat.
Albanese on Tuesday said the son and family members were investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization over his associates, two of whom were charged and jailed.
"But he was not seen at that time to be a person of interest. Now, whether he was radicalized further after that, what the circumstances are, that's the subject of further investigation," he said.
The identities of the two individuals jailed and the crimes they committed were not made public.
Though they were motivated by ISIS, Albanese said authorities are confident they acted alone. However, while they can't be 100% certain of that, they are communicating with other international agencies.
"We are certainly reaching out to Five Eyes partners, our security partners internationally as well, to see precisely if there are any links there," he said. "Those investigations will continue and we'll continue to inform Australians as those investigations proceed."
Five Eyes is the intelligence alliance consisting of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Albanese on Tuesday also visited Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Syrian man being heralded as a hero for tackling one of the two shooters on Sunday and is recovering from his injuries at a hospital.
A short video clip of the prime minister greeting the hospitalized al-Ahmed was posted online. In the video, Al-Ahmed is seen in a hospital bed with a large cast on his left arm.
In a doorstop interview with reporters later in the day, Albanese described the man as "a true Australian hero."
He said al-Ahmed had gone to the beach with friends and relatives and was getting a cup of coffee when he found himself in the middle of the shooting.
"He decided to take action, and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians," Albanese said.
Al-Ahmed is scheduled to undergo further surgery on Wednesday, Albanese said, adding that the man's parents were visiting him from Syria.
"They're very proud parents," the prime minister said. "He, at a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity. We are a brave country. Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country."