Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Shooters Identified
- Bondi Beach terror attack details emerge from Sydney investigation
- Bondi Beach terror attack declared after police recover explosives
The Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney has been formally declared a terrorist incident after investigators identified the shooters as a father and son duo of Pakistani origin and recovered improvised explosive devices linked to the case. Police said the shooting occurred on Sunday evening during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event and resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including one of the gunmen.
According to police, the attackers were identified as 50 year old Sajid Akram and his 24 year old son Naveed Akram, originally from Pakistan’s Lahore. Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police at the scene. Meanwhile, Naveed Akram was wounded and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the identities on Monday.
Police said the father and son opened fire at the event organised to mark the first day of the Jewish festival. The attack claimed the lives of people aged between 10 and 87. Authorities said a 10 year old girl later died at a children’s hospital. Therefore, the incident has been described as the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades, in a country known for strict gun control laws.
Investigators revealed that the two men had earlier told family members they were travelling to the South Coast for a fishing trip. However, police believe they instead carried out the attack at Bondi Beach. Later on Sunday night, heavily armed police conducted raids at the family’s home in Bonnyrigg in south west Sydney and at an Airbnb property in Campsie where the two men had been staying.
Police also located a vehicle on Campbell Parade in Bondi that contained several improvised explosive devices. Commissioner Lanyon said, “A rescue bomb disposal unit is there at the moment, working on the vehicle.” Referring to the recovery, he added, “The types of weapons… some of the other items we found at the scene — as I said, we have found the improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender,” while formally declaring it a terrorist attack.
Authorities said Naveed Akram is an Australian born citizen. His father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, later converting it to a partner visa in 2001 and then to a resident return visa, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said. Investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team are handling the probe.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
