‘Line by line’: AFP’s ‘flying squad of hate disruptors’ combing sermons for incitement

Bondi shooters Naveed and Sajid Akram acted alone and were not part of a broader terrorist cell, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has said, as she flagged the work of the force’s “flying squad of hate disruptors” assigned to crush the spread of fear and division.

In a limited press conference that provided information emerging from an investigation in co-operation with the Philippine National Police, Barrett also confirmed there was no evidence the pair were “directed by others to carry out an attack”.

Barrett said the father and son shooters “rarely left their hotel” during their month in the Philippines and received no “logistical preparation” or training while in the country. However, the commissioner said this did not mean the trip was primarily for tourism. They returned only a fortnight before the Bondi attack on December 14, when 15 people were killed and many more injured at a Hanukkah celebration in the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil.

“I want to underscore that the update I give today is our initial assessment,” Barrett said. “It’s a point in time. The AFP and our partners still have significant investigative work to undertake, and it is possible that new information or evidence may be forthcoming as part of that.”

She thanked the Philippine police, saying that “much of the CCTV footage that is now under review by our investigators would not have been available”.

The pair travelled from Sydney to Manila on November 1, continuing to Davao City on the same day. They returned to Sydney from the Philippines on November 29, two weeks before the Bondi shooting. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at Bondi. His son, Naveed, is facing 59 charges, including 15 charges of murder and one of terrorism.

During the briefing, Barrett flagged the work of the AFP’s “flying squad of hate disruptors”, who she said were focused on “high-harm, high-impact, politically motivated violence” and hate crimes that did not meet the threshold for terrorism investigations.

She pointed to the force’s ongoing investigations 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 strengthen 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 to disrupt early and 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.”

Speaking alongside Barrett, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was determined to enforce Australian values of “common humanity”.

“When people enter into Australia and go through the customs hall, they leave any prejudices and any hatreds in that hall, and they celebrate Australia … that’s what I want to see,” he said.

Questions from the media quickly returned to the government’s decision not to call a federal royal commission into antisemitism following demands from the families of Bondi victims for one to be established.

In a passionate defence of his record on antisemitism, Albanese said: “Our position is not out of convenience; it is out of conviction that this is the right direction to go in.

“The actual experts, who are the current experts, have all recommended this course of action, and we are following the advice that we received from authorities who are in 2025 dealing with this atrocity.”

Asked if the advice to not hold a royal commission came from the security agencies, Albanese said only that the government had received advice from security agencies as part of its considerations.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Albanese needed to provide the expert advice he had mentioned, saying the calls for a royal commission came from eminent Australians and the families of victims.

“The prime minister should provide advice because he stood there today, and he shouted at Australians,” Ley said. “He disrespected the victims’ families. He disrespected what happened in the way that he said he knows best.”

At Tuesday’s press conference, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said a review into law enforcement and intelligence agencies by former diplomat Dennis Richardson would investigate how agencies are notified of the travel arrangements of people of concern.

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