Police confirm that the alleged gunmen behind Sunday's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach travelled to the Philippines last month
"The reasons why they went, the purpose and where they went while they were there, is under investigation at the moment," New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says
Earlier, it was reported that the gunmen – named in local media as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24 – went to the Philippines to receive "military-style training"
Lanyon also says two "homemade" Islamic State group flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a vehicle used by the gunmen – it comes after Australia's PM said the attack appeared to have been "motivated by Islamic State ideology"
Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen targeted Jewish people attending a Hanukkah event – the victims include a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, a retired police officer, and a Holocaust survivor – what we know about them so far
Three people remain in critical condition in hospital, another five are critical but stable, New South Wales Health says
At Bondi, mourners are coming to lay flowers along the railing overlooking the beach – the mood is still very subdued, writes our correspondent
Edited by Emily Atkinson, with Katy Watson and Simon Atkinson at Bondi Beach
Katy Watson
Reporting from Bondi
There was a very different tone to today’s news conference – reporters clamouring to ask questions after a series of pretty significant developments in the investigation.
The press conference itself was delayed. The prime minister likely racing back from visiting "hero" Ahmed al Ahmed, who was filmed wrestling one of the gunmen.
When it finally started, he was standing alongside NSW Premier Chris Minns, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett.
Lanyon confirmed the two gunmen visited the Philippines, but didn’t give much more detail than that. And it was confirmed that both improvised explosive devices and Islamic State group flags had been found in the car of the younger gunman.
That seemed to unleash far more questions, urgently shouted out from the reporters but the authorities offered little information beyond the basics.
Every time they answered a question, it was followed up by several more. Those at the podium at times struggled to answer them fully before the next issue was asked of them.
Many of the questions centred around around the police response and the government's approach to tackling antisemitism.
It's early days in the investigation – that much the authorities admitted – but there’s a sense of urgency to get to the bottom of how this attack was masterminded.
Some community leaders and former politicians – including John Howard, who as prime minister introduced massive gun reforms after Australia's worst mass shooting in 1996 – have been saying current conversations about gun reform are a distraction from the real action needed.
Premier Chris Minns is asked about this, and rejects it. Tighter gun controls and policies tackling antisemitism are both needed.
"We have to do all these things together. That is the truth. This is a horrible crime and I think taking one action would be nowhere near enough to combat the scale of the challenges that are in front of us," he says.
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Watch: Police 'put their lives on the line', says New South Wales premier
Questioning has begun to get a bit heated at the press conference, with reporters pressing NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on the force's response to the attack, before premier Chris Minns steps in to defend the officers' actions.
He praises police who "put their lives on the line" and gets increasingly animated sparring with journalists who asked whether the event had adequate police protection.
"There are two officers in critical care… at the moment. They weren't shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front," Minns said.
He adds that any criticism that the police did not uphold their responsibilities is "disrespectful".
Anthony Albanese told reporters that the "radical, perversion of Islam" is "absolutely a problem", noting that this has been recognised globally – not just within Australia.
IS has been listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia since 2014, and the police commissioner confirmed IS flags had been seized from the alleged perpetrators' vehicle.
When asked what he was doing to combat hate speech, Albanese said that his government was the first to pass legislation outlawing it.
This, he said, was part of his government's response to anti-semitism Australia.
Commissioner Barrett is also warning that misinformation "could fuel retribution-type incidents", and calls for people to get their information from reputable sources like the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Police Force.
"Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, allegedly committed by a father and son," she says, adding that there is no evidence to suggest other individuals were involved at this stage.
"These are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organisation not a religion," Barrett adds.
We're hearing from the commissioner for Australian Federal Police, Krissy Barrett, now. She calls the Bondi shooting "a barbaric attack" on the Jewish community.
She condemns the attackers' actions as "callous", with no regard for the age of their victims.
She adds they were only interested in the victims as numbers on a "death tally".
More now from Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, who just says the two gunmen had recently travelled to the Philippines.
”The reasons why they went, the purpose and where they went while they were there, is under investigation at the moment," he says.
Earlier, ABC News cited security sources as saying the gunmen – named in local media as Sajid and Naveed Akram – travelled to the Philippines to receive "military-style training" in the month before the Bondi Beach shooting.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon is up now.
He says the vehicle the gunmen parked at the beach contained two "homemade" Islamic State group flags as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Police continue to work on the gunmen's motive, he says.
He also said the crime scene at Bondi Beach remained in place and would likely do so until tomorrow afternoon.
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Watch: Gunman's car contained IEDs and homemade Islamic State group flags
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is up next.
"My message to Jewish Australians is that we stand with you as a nation. We embrace you at what is a terrible time," Anthony Albanese says.
Continuing, he says the "very nature of our gun laws means that they are only as strong as the weakest link" and he commits to strengthening them.
He proposes that the measures would include limiting the number of guns and limiting the types of guns that are legal.
Having Australian citizenship as a requirement for gun ownership will also be considered, and work on a national gun register will be accelerated, he adds.
Continuing, Chris Minns says supporting terrorism police as they investigate is his first priority.
Secondly, his focus is on addressing antisemitism, he says, adding this "will not be done in a week" and would be a long-term project for his government.
He also says he's "determined to bring in the toughest gun laws in Australia, and they'll be significantly tightened in New South Wales."
Speaking first is New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who says the tragedy has brought the community together.
He adds that he's happy to see the public "showing love" to one another through messages of support.
The news conference with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, NSW Police and other officials has just got under way.
As a reminder, we'll bring you the key lines here. Tap watch live at the top of this page to follow along.
Ahmed al Ahmed is a "true Australian hero" who "represents the best of our country", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says after a hospital visit to a man who tackled one of the Bondi gunmen.
"He's very humble. He went through his thought processes as he saw the atrocities unfold. He had gone to Bondi with friends and relatives.
"He was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that, and found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him. He decided to take action, and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians."
"Tomorrow he will undergo further surgery," the PM says .
"His mother and father are here visiting him from Syria, and I was able to meet them as well. They're very proud parents. He, at a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity.
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'Your courage is inspiring' Australian PM tells Bondi shooting 'hero'
Constable Scott Dyson was attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command for 18 months
We've also had a statement through from the families of the two police officers injured during Sunday's shooting.
One of the officers, Constable Scott Dyson, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, police say.
The second officer, who has not been named, is also in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Otherwise, there is no further information.
Here's what their families say:
The families of the two injured officers wish to pass on their thoughts to the loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the Bondi shooting tragedy.
They also want to express their heartfelt gratitude to all first responders who acted with courage, in particular the police officers and paramedics who responded. They also wish to thank their hospital team, and especially those in ICU.
They thank the community for their support but have asked for privacy as their loved ones focus on recovery and healing.
While we wait for the news conference to begin, we can bring you an update from New South Wales Health on the condition of those injured in the attack at Bondi Beach.
There are 24 patients still receiving care in several Sydney hospitals, it says in its latest update. Of that number:
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, NSW Police and other officials are about to hold a news conference to provide an update on the operations after the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
We'll bring you the key lines here – follow along by tapping watch live above.
Katy Watson
Reporting from Bondi Beach
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Flowers and candles left as tributes to victims of Bondi attack
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens tells ABC News that there will be increased police presence at the start of the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
This is for "community reassurance" and there's no intelligence" to indicate an elevated level of threat, he says.
He adds that the officers deployed will carry rifles and be "fully visible", despite no indication that "there are any people in South Australia connected to the Bondi event".
Helen Sullivan
Reporting from Bondi Beach
Speaking as people continued to lay flowers at the Bondi Pavillion, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, tells the BBC of his “grief at lost friends and lost way of life”.
“The way that we've lived here as a Jewish community for generations, very freely, very openly, meeting in places like this to mark our festival days, bringing our children – I think that's done for now. I think that's finished,” he says.
He says he feels that the “bad guys have won…I think we have to be honest about that. They came to slaughter Jews, and they were extremely successful in their enterprise.
"We came to live, to celebrate our Jewishness, to celebrate being Australians, and we failed in that."
As the community continues to process what happened, their emotions are changing from "shock and disbelief" to “real anger”, he says.
“I think we need to understand that something has changed forever in this country."
Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin.
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Eyewitness captures moment man tackles and disarms Bondi shooter
In a round of radio interviews this morning, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he'll be visit Ahmed al Ahmed while he's in hospital.
Video verified by the BBC showed Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, running at the gunman and seizing his weapon, before turning the gun round on him and forcing his retreat. He was shot multiple times and has since undergone surgery for his wounds.
"It was extraordinary, that footage of essentially creeping up behind a gunman who’s involved in a mass shooting," Albanese tells Sydney's NOVA radio station.
"He is a hero and that needs to be recognised and I’m absolutely certain that we will do that."
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