Lead
Two men accused in the Bondi Beach massacre, identified as father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, spent nearly a month in Davao, Philippines, in November, according to a hotel employee who spoke to CNN. The employee said the pair rarely left their rooms, took only about an hour outside daily, had no visitors and paid cash when they extended their booking. Australian and Philippine authorities are jointly probing what the men did while in the country and whether the visit is tied to the antisemitic attack that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Philippine officials say so far they have found no evidence the pair received military-style training while in Mindanao.
Key Takeaways
- The suspects, Sajid and Naveed Akram, stayed at the GV Hotel in Davao from an initial November 1 booking that was extended through November 28; the extension was paid in cash.
- A hotel staff member who identified himself as Jun told CNN the men rarely left their rooms and typically spent about one hour outside the building each day.
- Hotel staff reported no visitors during the Akrams’ stay and found only takeaway food packages from Jollibee in their rooms.
- The Bondi attack killed 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s beach; Australian investigators are examining the Akrams’ overseas movements for links to motive and preparation.
- Australian media reported counterterrorism officials believed the men trained in military-style tactics in the Philippines; Philippine officials, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, said no evidence of such training has been found.
- Davao is on Mindanao, an area with a history of armed Islamist groups and past high-profile incidents such as the 2017 Marawi siege, though officials say militant capacity has been degraded.
- Global Terrorism Index data cited in reporting shows the Philippines ranked 20th out of 79 nations in 2025 for terrorism impact, down from 9th in 2019, reflecting some decline in overall threat level.
Background
The two suspects arrived in the southern Philippines in early November and booked a stay at the GV Hotel in Davao, a city on the island of Mindanao. The property is listed as a modest one-star hotel; staff say the men extended an eight-day booking to remain through November 28 and paid the balance in cash. Mindanao has long been affected by separatist conflicts and Islamist militancy, including the 2017 seizure of Marawi by groups linked to Islamic State, which prompted a multi-month military operation and mass displacement.
In the years since Marawi, Philippine authorities have pursued sustained counterinsurgency and law-enforcement campaigns across the south, and officials argue many militant groups are now fragmented. Nevertheless, analysts note that remote areas of the Philippines have historically attracted foreign fighters and provided space for rudimentary training and networking. The Akrams’ November visit has therefore drawn scrutiny from both Australian and Philippine investigators seeking to determine whether any local contacts or activities in Mindanao relate to the later attack in Sydney.
Main Event
According to the hotel employee who spoke to CNN under the name Jun, Sajid and Naveed limited their time outside to roughly one hour per day and otherwise remained in their rooms. Staff entered the rooms daily to clean and reported seeing only takeaway packaging, primarily from Jollibee, the Filipino fast-food chain. Jun said the men were polite and greeted staff, and he later recognized them from images released by Australian authorities; he noted only a difference in Naveed’s haircut.
Davao Police interviewed hotel employees at the GV Hotel as part of the inquiry. Philippine officials have been coordinating with Australian law enforcement since details of the suspects’ overseas travel emerged. Australia’s public broadcaster, ABC, reported that Australian counterterrorism officials believed the men may have received military-style training while in the Philippines, a claim Philippine security authorities say they have not substantiated.
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano told reporters that investigators have not found indicators of training in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Theresa P. Lazaro confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that Manila is in contact with Australian counterparts and reiterated support for protecting communities from intolerance and violence. Investigators in both countries continue to piece together travel records, CCTV, hotel logs and financial trails to reconstruct the Akrams’ activities during the November stay.
Analysis & Implications
If Philippine-based training or contacts were confirmed, investigators would then seek to identify specific groups or facilitators and the nature of any instruction provided. Even without evidence of formal training, a prolonged, low-profile stay in a region with militant networks raises questions about whether the suspects sought anonymity, logistical support or contacts. The contrast between the Akrams’ conspicuous isolation at the hotel and the violent, public nature of the Bondi attack underscores a common investigative challenge: linking quiet preparatory activity to overt acts of violence.
The bilateral aspect of this probe highlights practical law-enforcement hurdles: different legal systems, evidentiary standards, and the need for rapid information-sharing across jurisdictions. Australia’s counterterrorism agencies will be focused on travel manifests, credit-card or cash-flow patterns, communications records and any persons of interest the Akrams may have met. For the Philippines, the inquiry tests the reach of provincial security services and their ability to detect transient foreign nationals whose behavior may appear innocuous.
Beyond the immediate criminal investigation, the episode could affect diplomatic and security cooperation between Canberra and Manila. Manila’s public statements denying evidence of training and describing some media portrayals as “outdated” reflect a sensitivity to economic and tourism repercussions for Mindanao and a desire to show progress in counterterror measures. International partners will likely press for transparency in the evidence-sharing process while balancing the political implications of linking extremist activity to particular localities.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines GTI rank (impact) | 9th | 20th |
| Fatalities in Bondi attack | 15 victims | |
The Global Terrorism Index ranking shift cited by Philippine officials illustrates a measured decline in national-level terrorism impact between 2019 and 2025, though rankings do not erase localized risk. The Bondi attack’s 15 fatalities represent a significant domestic terrorism event in Australia and have prompted intensified scrutiny of foreign travel by suspects. Statistical comparisons help frame national trends but do not directly establish links between specific incidents and broader regional threat levels.
Reactions & Quotes
Philippine officials have emphasized cooperation while denying current evidence of local training. The following statements were issued publicly and cited in reporting on the case.
“We reaffirm our support for efforts that protect communities from intolerance, hatred, and violence.”
Theresa P. Lazaro, Philippine Foreign Minister (statement on X)
Lazaro’s post underlined Manila’s diplomatic outreach to Australia following the attack and framed the relationship in terms of joint efforts to counter hatred and violence. Her message was shared after Manila confirmed contact with Australian authorities.
“There is no indicator or any information that they underwent training.”
Eduardo Ano, Philippine National Security Adviser (press comment)
Ano’s brief comment sought to temper media speculation linking the Akrams to militant training in Mindanao and to highlight the absence of concrete evidence as of the government’s latest briefings. Philippine security sources stress that investigations remain ongoing and that the situation could change if new leads emerge.
“They were very polite and respectful to staff,”
Hotel employee identifying himself as Jun (interview with CNN)
Hotel staff described routine interactions and said the men allowed room cleaning and kept their quarters tidy, details officials use to narrow potential sources of evidence such as housekeeping logs or CCTV timestamps.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Akrams received military-style or formal training in the Philippines remains unverified; Australian reporting has suggested the possibility but Philippine authorities say no evidence has been found.
- The identities of any local contacts or facilitators the men may have met in Mindanao have not been publicly confirmed.
- Exact movements and activities during the daily one-hour outings reported by hotel staff are not yet fully reconstructed from independent records.
Bottom Line
The Akrams’ low-profile, cash-paid month in Davao has become a focal point in efforts to understand the Bondi Beach massacre and whether overseas activity contributed to planning or radicalization. Current official statements from Manila emphasize a lack of evidence for training in Mindanao, but investigators in Australia and the Philippines continue to seek corroborating records, CCTV, travel data and communications to fill gaps.
Even without definitive links to local militant groups, the episode demonstrates how short, discreet stays in regions with histories of unrest can complicate cross-border probes. Readers should expect further developments as authorities exchange evidence and follow financial and communication trails that could either corroborate or refute the training claims.
Sources
- CNN (international news reporting, original interview and investigation)
- ABC (Australian public broadcaster, reporting on counterterrorism assessments)
- Associated Press (news agency, reporting on Philippine official statements)
- Global Terrorism Index / Vision of Humanity (research institute data on national terrorism impact)