Sydney Bondi Beach Shooting: Father-Son Duo Identified as Attackers

The tragic shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 15, 2023, has been linked to a father-son duo from Lahore, Pakistan. The attack resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including both gunmen, with authorities confirming that Sajid Akram, aged 50, was killed by police during the incident, while his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was wounded and is currently receiving medical treatment.

The shooting occurred during a community event known as “Chanukah by the Sea,” which celebrated the first day of the Jewish festival. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene as the two gunmen opened fire on attendees, leading to one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings in nearly three decades, particularly concerning given the country’s strict gun laws.

According to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, initial investigations revealed that the Akram family had misled relatives about their intentions, claiming they were going on a fishing trip. Instead, they carried out an attack that shocked the nation. The youngest victim was just 10 years old, while the oldest was 87.

Naveed Akram, an Australian citizen, was born in the country. His father, Sajid Akram, migrated to Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which transitioned to a partner visa and then to a resident return visa, as confirmed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

In the aftermath of the shooting, police executed raids on the family’s residence in Bonnyrigg, located in south-west Sydney, as well as an Airbnb property where the two men had been staying. Authorities discovered a vehicle on Campbell Parade that contained several improvised explosive devices. Commissioner Lanyon stated, “A rescue bomb disposal unit is there at the moment, working on the vehicle.”

The police have officially classified the incident as a terrorist attack. Investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), which comprises both state and federal agencies, are looking into the attackers’ alleged affiliations with the Islamic State. Sources report that two IS flags were found in the vehicle, with one visible in footage from the scene.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed Akram had come to the attention of the domestic intelligence agency ASIO in October 2019, following a disruption of plans for an IS-inspired attack. Although he was investigated for approximately six months, authorities ultimately determined he did not pose an ongoing threat.

Reports indicate that Naveed had connections with Matari, a convicted individual currently serving a seven-year sentence for planning an IS insurgency in Australia. Naveed’s links to Matari and other convicted terrorists have raised concerns among investigators about his radicalization.

During a press briefing, Mike Burgess, ASIO’s Director-General, acknowledged that one of the gunmen was known to the agency, but did not specify which one. “One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective,” he stated, indicating a need for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Commissioner Lanyon also revealed that Sajid Akram had held a firearms license for the past ten years. Reports from The Sydney Morning Herald suggest that Naveed Akram, who had recently lost his job as a bricklayer, was actively seeking employment at the time of the shooting.

The Akram family resides in a three-bedroom house purchased in 2024, having previously lived in Cabramatta. Naveed’s mother, Verena, expressed disbelief at her son’s involvement in the attack, stating she did not recognize him in images from the scene and insisted he could not be associated with violence or extremist activities.

The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to this devastating incident, which has left a profound impact on the Australian community.