Sydney’s Bondi Beach shooting: At least 16 people were killed, and more than 40 others, some in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals, after a gunfire broke out during a Hanukkah celebration.The victims included children and elderly people. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said their ages ranged from just 10 years old to 87.
Police, according to a NYT report, confirmed that the attackers were a father and his 24-year-old son. Despite the local media’s insistence, authorities added that there is no third suspect. They also said the two men did not appear to have a serious criminal history.
Who are Naveed Akram and Sajid Akram?
Naveed Akram is the 24-year-old man accused of carrying out the attack along with his father, Sajid Akram, 50. Naveed was arrested at the scene. He was shot by police during the operation and was taken to the hospital. Authorities say he is in critical but stable condition and is under police guard. His father, Sajid Akram, was killed during the shooting. Reports say Sajid owned a fruit shop and lived with his family in Sydney.
Police said Akram and his father had been staying at an address in Campsie, and their home in Bonnyrigg was searched as part of the investigation. Very little else is publicly known about Akram at this stage, and authorities say they are still trying to understand what led him to take part in the attack.
“There was very little knowledge of either of these men by the authorities,” Mal Lanyon, the New South Wales police commissioner, said during a press conference in Sydney. Police revealed that before the attack, the father and son had told relatives they were going on a weekend fishing trip to Jervis Bay.
One of the most troubling details to emerge is that the father was a licensed firearms owner. According to the NY Post, citing a police report, Sajid Akram had held a gun licence for around 10 years and had six firearms registered in his name. Six guns were recovered from the crime scene and related searches. Forensic teams are now carrying out ballistic tests to confirm whether these weapons were used in the shooting.
Despite declaring the incident a terrorist attack, police have not yet confirmed what motivated the shooters. Commissioner Lanyon said investigators need more time before commenting on belief, intent or possible links to extremist groups.
Shock and fear in the Jewish community
The attack took place on Sunday near Bondi Beach, a popular spot filled with locals and tourists. The two men opened fire from a pedestrian footbridge near Campbell Parade.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting “an act of pure evil.” Speaking to reporters, he said Bondi Beach, a place long associated with family outings, and celebration, has now been permanently scarred by the tragedy. As a mark of respect for the victims, flags across Australia will be flown at half-staff.
It is the deadliest mass shooting in the country since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which left 35 people dead. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Australia introduced some of the world’s strictest gun laws, banning semi-automatic rifles and tightening rules around gun ownership.
Officers are examining the shooters’ movements, digital records, and personal histories to understand how the attack was planned and why it happened.