Authorities are investigating a trip to a known Islamic State stronghold made by the father and son responsible for the Bondi Beach massacre, as the mother of their youngest victim revealed the schoolgirl was deliberately targeted.
Probe into Philippines 'Military-Style Training'
Police are examining the journey made by Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, to the Philippines in the weeks before the deadly attack. According to Manila authorities, the pair were in the country from November 1 to 28.
Security sources indicate they travelled to receive "military-style training", with customs records confirming their final destination was Davao, a city in an area of Mindanao linked to IS extremism. A key question for Australian authorities is why this visit was not flagged as a security risk.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the reasons for the trip are "under investigation". The Philippines National Security Council is also checking the suspects' potential links to terrorist groups in the region.
"It Wasn't an Accident": A Mother's Anguish
The parents of 10-year-old Matilda Poltavchenko attended a vigil in Sydney, where her mother addressed the crowd. She described how the gunmen singled out her daughter as she ran for her father.
"I can't imagine what is a monster that stands on that bridge, and seeing a little girl running for her father to hide with him, just pulled the trigger on her," she said. "It wasn't an accident, it wasn't just a bullet, fired from a hill … it stays here in my heart."
Matilda's father held a framed photo of his daughter, who was killed minutes after having her face painted. The family had moved from Ukraine, and Matilda was their first child born in Australia. "I thought Matilda was the most Australian name," her father told the vigil.
Systemic Failures and Heroic Interventions
The investigation is also focusing on significant red flags that were apparently missed. Naveed Akram had been on the radar of police and security services since 2019 due to his links to extremism in Sydney.
Despite this, his father was still granted licences for six firearms, some of which were used in the massacre. IS flags and improvised explosive devices were later found in their car.
The attack, which Australian authorities say was "motivated by Islamic State ideology", left 15 people dead. Twenty-two others remain in hospital, with nine in a critical condition.
Mobile phone footage confirmed the attackers fired more than 100 rounds in six minutes at a crowd of about 1,000 people attending a Jewish festival.
Amid the horror, stories of bravery emerged. Dashcam footage showed Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, confronting the gunmen. Boris, a retired mechanic, was seen tackling Sajid Akram and wrestling a gun from his hands, with Sofia assisting.
Their family said the couple's actions "encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were, people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others." The pair, married for 34 years, were among those killed.
The family of another victim, Edith Brutman, remembered her as "a woman of integrity, who chose humanity, every day." They expressed hope that her memory would call the nation "back to decency, courage, and peace."
Naveed Akram, who shot at crowds from a road bridge, was seriously injured by a police marksman after his father was shot dead. He has since awoken from a coma as the full picture of the plot continues to be uncovered.
