A construction worker who supervised the alleged Bondi Beach gunman for almost a year has shared a disturbing account of the man's behaviour, revealing colleagues eerily predicted he would 'snap'. Bricklayer Rishy, who oversaw Naveed Akram on the Crows Nest Metro station project in Sydney, described a quiet loner whose sudden, violent outburst and extreme habits now seem like terrifying red flags.
The Quiet Worker Who Erupted
Rishy told the Daily Mail that Akram, 24, was initially punctual and polite but profoundly isolated, with no real friends or social life. The dynamic shifted dramatically one day on site when a colleague made a comment about God. "He took heart and he just snapped at the guy yelling that you should never speak about a god like that," Rishy recalled. "It was just boom and the devil came out." The fury subsided as quickly as it appeared, leaving the crew deeply unsettled.
This incident led to wider concerns. When a contract required an overnight stay in Newcastle, co-workers refused to share a room with Akram. The man who eventually did reported waking at 2am to find Akram bolt upright, praying, and refusing to sleep.
Unsettling Habits and a Gun Licence
As months passed, more peculiar traits emerged. Akram, who spoke with a stutter, would sit through breakfast and lunch without eating or drinking, simply staring at others. He clammed up completely during conversations about dating or personal lives. "Completely devoid of emotions, you could see the tension," Rishy said.
Most chilling in hindsight was Akram's pride in his gun licence, a fact he shared with the crew. "He was really proud of it and that keeps me awake at night now," Rishy admitted. The supervisor, who considered himself Akram's closest acquaintance, is now haunted by the emotionless expression he saw on the man's face in videos of the Bondi attack.
Aftermath and Fears of Further Attacks
The attack at the Bondi Hanukkah festival left 16 people dead, including Akram's father Sajid, 50, with dozens injured. Naveed Akram now faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder. Authorities have since confirmed ASIO investigated Akram in 2019 for suspected extremist links.
Rishy believes Akram was likely being radicalised during their time working together. "He was likely still being groomed when I worked with him," he said. "What also worries me is wherever he went, whichever mosque it was, obviously preached hate speech because there is no smoke without fire." He ended with a grave warning: "There is more of them out there, and unless something is done, there is going to be another horrific attack in time."
