Overview
- An ABC-sourced senior Philippines police investigator says a phone linked to Sajid and Naveed Akram was detected near M'lang in North Cotabato, with possible detections in other Mindanao areas still being checked.
- CCTV, phone and police leads indicate the pair visited a Davao gun shop (Shooters Guns & Ammo Corp), a beach resort, an RCBC ATM and the Mercy Islamic Foundation, despite hotel staff saying they rarely left their room.
- Philippine police, army and intelligence personnel searched Dungoan near M'lang after the signal lead, but the village chief said the site was an empty field and authorities found little of value.
- National security adviser Eduardo Año maintains there is no evidence the pair left Davao or received military-style training, while analysts quoted by the Guardian describe the travel as haphazard and unlikely to involve direct IS coordination.
- Authorities confirm the Akrams stayed in the Philippines from November 1 to 28; investigators are testing theories including a holiday or waiting to meet someone, and Australian officials say the Bondi attack was ISIS-inspired with Naveed Akram charged.