A Four Corners investigation into the secret lives of the alleged Bondi shooters in the lead-up to the nation’s worst terrorist attack will go to air on Monday night despite a preemptive claim by Asio that the episode contains “significant errors of fact”.
Path to Terror examines whether there were failures in intelligence and counter-terrorism leading up to the antisemitic massacre on Bondi beach on 14 December, and tracks the paths to radicalisation of father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram.
Asio took the unusual step on Sunday of releasing the statement it provided to the ABC in response to multiple questions the investigative program put to the intelligence agency ahead of broadcast.
The ABC confirmed the agency had not seen the program but has made a series of assumptions based on the detailed questions put to them, including an allegation that the ABC used an unreliable source.
Asio has also denied that it received intelligence about Sajid being part of a group that discussed a plan to establish a pro-Islamic State community in Türkiye and that Naveed was “a close associate” of known terrorists.
“If the ABC chooses to publish claims it cannot substantiate – particularly ones it has been told are untrue – we will reserve our right to take further action,” the Asio statement said.
When asked to clarify what action could be taken, a spokesperson for Asio referred Guardian Australia to its statement.
The ABC confirmed Asio’s intervention would not affect the planned...
A Four Corners investigation into the secret lives of the alleged Bondi shooters in the lead-up to the nation’s worst terrorist attack will go to air on Monday night despite a preemptive claim by ...