A 34-year-old Indian-origin man, Amandeep Singh Bola, has recalled the terrifying moments when he helped restrain one of the alleged shooters during the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia.
The attack took place on December 14 during a Hanukkah celebration at the iconic Bondi beach. A father-son duo allegedly opened fire on people, killing 15 and injuring 40 others, including three Indian students. Australian authorities have described the incident as “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.”
‘I thought the gunshots were firecrackers’
Singh-Bola, a personal trainer who was born in New Zealand to Indian and Kiwi parents, said he was eating a kebab and watching the sunset when the shooting began. “I had just smashed back a kebab with spicy sauce on it, so I was actually sick from the run down,” he later recalled in an interview with Times of India. At first, he dismissed the sounds as fireworks.“I was having a kebab when I heard the gunshots. At first, I thought it was firecrackers, but soon I saw men and women running away in fear,” he further added.
Running towards the gunfire
Instead of fleeing, Singh-Bola ran towards the sound of gunfire. “I wanted to help get one of [the alleged shooters] down, or just help anybody that needed help,” he told TOI. As he moved closer to the footbridge where the shooters were positioned, he slowed down and advanced carefully. “It was almost like tunnel vision – just trying to hide behind things and not be seen, just trying to find out where he was. Once I saw where he was, nothing else really mattered,” he told TOI.
Singh-Bola managed to reach one of the attackers, Sajid Akram, a 50-year-old Sydney resident, and tackled him with the help of a police officer. “I jumped on top of [the shooter] and grabbed his arms. The police officer helped me and said not to let him go,” he explained to TOI.
He kicked the gun away, held Akram down and locked his arms in case he tried to use another weapon. “I could feel him dying under me,” Bola told Times of India. Police later shot Sajid Akram at the scene. Singh-Bola said he could feel the shooter dying while restraining him. Singh-Bola clarified that his sickness afterward was not due to the blood or trauma. “Asserting that he was not sick from the blood when he got up, Singh-Bola told TOI.
Who were the attackers?
Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police, was an Indian citizen from Hyderabad who migrated to Australia 27 years ago after completing his bachelor’s degree. He had been living in Australia since 1998. According to The Indian Express, Sajid visited Hyderabad in 2001 with his European-origin wife for a nikah ceremony, and again in 2004–05 to introduce his son Naveed Akram to his parents. The Telangana intelligence officials who questioned his family said they found nothing suspicious. “They seemed shocked to know he (Sajid) could do something like this,” they told The Indian Express.
What are the charges levied?
Sajid’s 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, an Australian citizen, survived after being shot by police and later waking up from a coma. On Wednesday, Australian authorities charged Naveed with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of grievous bodily harm, one count of committing a terrorist act, Charges related to firearms, explosives and displaying a terrorist organisation symbol
“Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” police said. Investigators are also probing an alleged ISIS connection including a reported trip to the southern Philippines, a region previously linked to extremist activity.