Canberra: A father and son have opened fire on a crowd at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, in what police have confirmed as a terrorist attack. The assault was carried out by a Pakistani national who was described as being obsessed with Judaism. The death toll from the attack has risen to 15, while the number of injured has increased to 40. Authorities said the shooting occurred on the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The incident took place at around 2.17 pm on Sunday, Indian time. The attackers were identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, both of Pakistani origin. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police following the attack, while Naveed Akram sustained serious injuries and remains in critical condition. There are reports that the attackers deliberately targeted members of the Jewish community in Australia. Police have stated that, based on current evidence, the two men were the only perpetrators involved in the shooting.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators had obtained crucial information regarding the attackers and the weapons used during the incident. He also revealed that police discovered two live improvised explosive devices near the scene, suggesting the attackers may have been planning a much larger explosion. As part of the ongoing investigation, search warrants were executed at properties linked to the suspects in the western Sydney suburbs of Bonnyrigg and Campsie. Police have confirmed that the 50-year-old attacker was a licensed gun owner and had six firearms registered in his name. Authorities believe that all six weapons were used during the Bondi Beach attack. Investigators are continuing to examine how the firearms were deployed and whether there were any lapses in monitoring or security. New South Wales Police reiterated that the incident meets the legal definition of a terrorist attack under Australian law.
Naveed Akram, who is originally from Lahore, Pakistan, is a student at the Al-Murad Institute in Sydney. He has previously studied at universities in both Australia and Pakistan. Investigators are examining his background, online activity, and possible radical influences as part of the broader counterterrorism inquiry. Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, is investigating whether the attackers had any links to the Islamic State terrorist organisation. Officials are examining information suggesting that one of the attackers may have contacted an ISIS-linked cell in Sydney approximately six years ago. Authorities have stressed that these lines of inquiry are ongoing and that no conclusions have yet been reached.
The attackers opened fire on people who had gathered for a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Police have confirmed that the event was specifically targeted. Investigators are also probing whether a third individual may have played a role in the planning or execution of the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other international leaders praised a passerby who reportedly overpowered one of the attackers during the shooting. The man, identified as Ahmed al-Ahmad, 43, managed to seize the weapon and assist in restraining the attacker, an act that is believed to have prevented further loss of life. His actions have received widespread international recognition.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the attack. More than a thousand people had gathered at Bondi Beach to take part in the Hanukkah celebrations when the shooting occurred. The Israeli government stated that the attack took place amid heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions and noted that it had previously warned Australia about potential security risks. According to police, the first shots were fired at around 6.30 pm Australian local time. Bondi Beach, one of Sydney’s most popular entertainment and tourist destinations, was crowded at the time. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as sustained gunfire triggered panic, with people screaming and running for cover. Many victims were shot while attempting to flee the area.
Prime Minister Albanese described the Bondi Beach massacre as shocking and deeply disturbing. He praised the swift response of police and emergency services, who moved quickly to secure the area and provide medical assistance to the injured. Emphasising national unity, he said the attack was a targeted assault on the Jewish community and added that any attack on the Jewish community is an attack on all Australians.
