Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that the armed suspect in the Sydney attack, Naveed Akram, was not on any counter-terrorism watchlist before the incident. The revelation comes as authorities continue investigating the motives and background of the assailant, who carried out a mass shooting at a local event in Sydney that claimed multiple lives and left several injured.

Albanese told reporters that neither Akram nor his accomplice was previously flagged as part of any organised extremist group, though both appeared to be influenced by “extremist ideology.” Law enforcement officials have also stated that no third party is currently suspected, and multiple improvised explosive devices were found in the suspects’ vehicle during the investigation.

Meanwhile, a Syrian-born bystander, Ahmed Al Ahmad, has been widely praised for disarming one of the attackers—earning recognition both locally and internationally for his bravery.