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Australian authorities say the father and son accused of carrying out a deadly antisemitic attack during a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were motivated by Islamic State ideology and had recently traveled to the Philippines, a region known for past extremist activity.

Officials described the assault as a terrorist attack aimed at maximizing casualties among civilians. Fifteen people were killed and more than 40 wounded in Sunday’s shooting, including a 10-year-old girl and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. The attackers were identified as a 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, who was fatally shot by police at the scene, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who remains hospitalized after being wounded during the confrontation. Police said the firearms used were legally owned by the elder Akram.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday investigators have found clear indicators of extremist influence. “It would appear that there is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS” Albanese told reporters. Australia’s federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, echoed that assessment, calling the incident “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.” Authorities said homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices were discovered inside a vehicle linked to the suspects.

Investigators confirmed the two men traveled to the Philippines from Nov. 1 to Nov. 28, with immigration records listing Davao as their final destination. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities are examining where the men went and what they did during the trip. Australian media, citing security sources, reported the suspects may have received “military-style training,” though Philippine officials said there is no current evidence of foreign militants operating in the country’s south.

Indian police confirmed Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad, where he earned a degree before migrating to Australia in 1998. He held an Indian passport, while his children were born in Australia and are citizens. Indian authorities said Akram had limited contact with relatives in India and that family members “expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalization.” Police added his son’s radicalization appeared to have no connection to India.

Australian officials acknowledged that Naveed Akram had been investigated in 2019 for possible links to a Sydney-based extremist network, but intelligence agencies later determined he posed no threat at the time. ABC News reported he had associations with individuals tied to pro-ISIS activity, though lawyers for one of those figures denied any involvement in the Bondi Beach attack.

Albanese and state leaders pledged to further tighten Australia’s already strict gun laws, noting that the elder suspect legally possessed multiple firearms. “The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or ableness of their victims.”

Israeli officials sharply criticized Australia’s government, pointing to a rise in antisemitic incidents. Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon warned that Jewish Australians no longer feel safe and urged stronger action, saying, “We are now facing here a surge of antisemitism, and Australians of Jewish faith are not feeling secure in their own country, and this is insane.”

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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell announced during a press conference on Tuesday that Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for the killings of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead in their home over the weekend.

Hochman said at the news conference alongside McDonnell that “their loss is beyond tragic and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice,” adding that this type of case is “the most serious charge the DA’s office can bring against anyone.” The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, Hochman said, with the DA adding that “no decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.” Hochman said Riener also faces a special allegation that he used a knife in the killings; sources familiar with the case sharing that the couple were found with multiple stab wounds.

Reiner, 32, was not medically cleared to appear in court on Tuesday, according his attorney, Alan Jackson.  Jackson confirmed to reporters outside Los Angeles Superior Court that he was representing Reiner, and that his client would not be making his first court appearance Tuesday because he hadn’t been medically cleared. Reiner is being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. “Hopefully he’ll be cleared tomorrow and we can get him here,” Jackson said, though he would not specify what medical issue prevented Reiner from being cleared, only saying it was “procedural.”

Nick Reiner had been living on his parents’ property in a guest house separate from the main structure, but was not at home when his parents’ bodies were discovered. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that he was found in Exposition Park near the University of Southern California on Sunday night thanks to “good, solid police work” and was taken into custody. Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said at the department’s weekly commission meeting on Tuesday that the Reiners were found dead in the master bedroom of their Brentwood home by their daughter, Romy Reiner. Choi did not give any additional new insights into their deaths.

Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, is a partner at the firm Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP. He has previously represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read, among others, in their high-profile cases. He helped secure an acquittal for Read, who had been charged with murdering her police officer boyfriend in Massachusetts. Jackson represented Spacey in his Massachusetts groping case, which was dismissed when the actor’s accuser dropped their civil complaint; and he was also on the team that defended Weinstein in his California criminal trial. In addition, Jackson successfully prosecuted record producer Phil Spector for murdering actress Lana Clarkson.

Nick has a history of battling addiction and he had spoken publicly about his struggles, which reportedly began when he was a teenager. He has said that he has been in and out of addiction treatment facilities, and spent time homeless and living on the streets. Nick co-wrote – and Rob Reiner directed – the 2016 film ‘Being Charlie’ about the struggles of an addicted son and a famous father. While it was not autobiographical, the film included several elements of their lives.  Just three months ago, Nick was photographed with his parents and siblings at the premiere of his father’s film “Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.”

New details about the events leading up to the incident have also been revealed. The night before the killings (Saturday, December 13) Nick and his parents attended a holiday party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, where he was seen being disruptive; with sources stating that Rob and Nick had a “brief but loud” argument.

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