It has been just over two weeks since two offenders allegedly launched a terrorist attack against Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach.
Over the past two weeks, the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team has worked methodically to not only charge a person for the alleged terror attack but more broadly, the AFP and our partners have worked tirelessly to identify and target others who may try to leverage from this heinous, hate-filled crime.
One man, who we allege was inspired by ISIS, is before the courts, which limits what information I can provide or what I can say.
However, the Jewish community, and the broader Australian public, deserve reassurance, and answers about how this happened.
Given impending court processes and other security matters, I can't provide all the details we have, but I want to provide some information that goes to broader questions and concerns.
I want to underscore that the update I give today is our initial assessment and a point in time. The AFP and our partners still have significant investigative work to undertake, and it is possible new information or evidence may be forthcoming.
There has been much speculation about the two alleged offenders and their travel to the Philippines.
I can confirm the two individuals who we allege are responsible for the terror attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December this year, spent almost a month in the Philippines.
Travel records show they left Sydney for Manila on 1 November, 2025, and on the same day travelled to Davao City.
They arrived back in Sydney from the Philippines on 29 November, 2025.
The initial assessment from the Philippine National Police is that the individuals rarely left their hotel, and there is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack.
CCTV footage capturing their stay in the Philippines has been provided to the AFP and we are currently reviewing the material.
What this points to - and I will again advise this is a point in time assessment - is that these individuals are alleged to have acted alone.
There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by others to carry out an attack.
However, I want to be clear - I am not suggesting they were there for tourism.
An AFP analyst deployed to the Philippines after the attack to support our members who are based in Manila and work very closely with the Philippine National Police.
I want to thank the Philippine National Police for their cooperation in assisting with our investigation. Without their swift response, much of the CCTV footage that is now under review by our investigators would not have been available.
We have been working with the Philippine National Police to counter terrorism in our region for decades and their assistance during the past fortnight has been crucial.
Countering extremism and radicalisation are critical to helping keep Australia and our region safe.
Since I became Commissioner, most of my public comments have centred on how the AFP is targeting radicalisation and extremism. I established our flying squad of hate disrupters who focus on high-harm, high-impact politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that do not meet the threshold for terrorism investigations but drive fear and division.
And I again take the opportunity to reiterate that the AFP has had ongoing investigations for some time into those who corrupt Islam in their radical recruitment drive for hatred and fear.
We have gone through the sermons line-by-line, sought out experts and legal advice on charging those who we believe are inciting hatred towards the Jewish community.
The AFP welcomes the Federal Government's plans to strength hate speech laws.
I remain concerned about vulnerable adults and youth who are susceptible or open to manipulation by religious and other extremists who encourage violence or desensitise violence.
Radicalisation and extremism can provide a pipeline of recruits to terror groups who are willing to use violence to advance their cause.
The AFP will be visible and vocal on those we charge, and importantly, the work of the National Security Investigations teams is to disrupt early to deter and prevent violence.
We won't put a time limit on our vigilance - we will be here every day to help keep Australians safe.
Thank you.
