MANILA: The Philippine National Police launched on Wednesday a probe into the recent visit to the country of a father and son whom Australian authorities have identified as suspects in last week’s mass shooting in Sydney.

Two gunmen killed 15 people and wounded dozens of others during Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.

The suspected shooters, identified by Australian authorities as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, traveled to the Philippines last month.

The news has prompted various media outlets to speculate that there are links between their visit and the Sydney attack — an allegation Manila has since denied.

The investigation launched by the Philippine police seeks to establish the purpose of the suspects’ travel and their movement while in the country.