The global community has been left reeling after a father and son allegedly carried out a deadly mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach. The attack on Sunday evening, which targeted the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event, resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl.
The Suspects: A Father and Son Duo
Australian authorities have named the suspected gunmen as Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram. The pair, who lived in the Bonnyrigg suburb of Western Sydney, are believed to have been inspired by Islamic extremist ideology. Naveed was a recently unemployed bricklayer, while his father Sajid worked as a fruiterer.
In a deceptive move, the duo told family they were on a fishing trip to Jervis Bay, over 100 miles from Bondi. In reality, they had taken a short-term rental in Campsie, a western Sydney suburb. CCTV footage captured them walking in Campsie around 5.15pm before driving to the beach, where the shooting commenced at 6.47pm.
Police believe Sajid Akram was shot dead by officers at the scene, while Naveed sustained critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Known to Authorities but Not Deemed an Immediate Threat
The younger suspect, Naveed Akram, was known to Australia's counter-terrorism authorities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, had been monitored by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) since October 2019.
He was investigated for six months over alleged connections with extremists, with local media linking the probe to an Islamic State cell. However, ASIO Director General Mike Burgess stated that, prior to the attack, Naveed was not considered "an immediate threat." PM Albanese echoed this, saying the assessment at the time indicated "no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence."
In a later update, Albanese stressed there was "no evidence that these people were part of a cell", but that they were clearly motivated by extremist ideology. Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, though the country of origin was not disclosed by officials.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the atrocity, ASIO stated it was investigating any further threat to Jewish Australians. The attack has prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to demand tougher gun laws in the country.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon promised a "very thorough and transparent investigation" into the massacre. He confirmed that Naveed Akram would potentially face criminal charges for his alleged role in the Bondi Beach shooting.
