Nartatez: PNP looking into travel details of Bondi Beach shooters in PH
Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. (File photo: PNP)
Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered a thorough investigation into the recent visit to the Philippines of the father-and-son suspects linked to the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney, Australia.
What the PNP wants to know, according to Nartatez, are all the information regarding the travel that include the people they met and the places they visited during almost one month stay of 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his son 24-year-old Naveed since their arrival on Nov. 1 this year.
Nartatez underscored the need to establish the purpose of the suspects’ travel to the Philippines and to account for their movements while in the country.
“This matter is being investigated as we seek to determine the reason behind their visit to the Philippines. We want to obtain all the necessary information to establish the motive and eventually take the appropriate actions against all those responsible behind the gun attack,” said Nartatez.
Nartatez added that the PNP is closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other security agencies as part of a whole-of-government approach to information sharing and threat assessment.
Coordination is also ongoing with foreign counterparts to validate intelligence and ensure that no security gaps are left unaddressed.
The two left the country on Nov. 28 via a connecting flight from Davao to Manila, with Sydney as their final destination.
Malacañang had said that the visit of the suspects to the Philippines is not considered as a serious security concern in the country.
Nartatez reassured the public that the PNP remains on alert and firmly in control of the country’s peace and order situation.
He emphasized that the police force continues to work proactively to prevent threats and to keep communities safe.