DFA welcomes Australia confirmation that Bondi suspects didn't train in PhilippinesThis screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Australian authorities have found no evidence that the suspects in the December 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting incident received military-style training during their month-long stay in the Philippines. The latter shared mid-December that they found no indications that the father-and-son suspects received any training or prepared for the attack during their month-long stay in Davao City. Philippines rejects 'ISIS training hotspot' labelThis confirmation by Australia comes after the Philippine government strongly rejected foreign media reports characterizing the country as an "ISIS training hotspot" following the Bondi Beach attack. Año had pointed out that there have been "no recorded terrorist training activities" by ISIS-affiliated groups in recent years in the Philippines.

Source: Philippine Star January 06, 2026 07:35 UTC