India is set to formally join the Australian investigation into the Sydney Bondi Beach attack by sending a joint team of police and intelligence officials, as scrutiny intensifies over the Indian passport held by one of the attackers and his previous visits to India. The move follows inputs suggesting jurisdictional and intelligence-sharing obligations between the two countries, officials familiar with the matter said.
The decision comes amid mounting concerns over the suspect’s ideological motivations and possible links to transnational radicalisation networks, especially in light of indications that the attack may have involved targeted violence against Jewish individuals.
The Telangana Police on Tuesday (Dec 17) confirmed that the main attacker, Sajid Akram, 50, was originally a resident of Tolichowki in Hyderabad but had migrated to Australia in 1998. According to the police, Akram had visited India only a handful of times over the past three decades and had no criminal or adverse record during his stays in the country.
“There is no adverse record against Akram during his stay in India prior to his departure in 1998,” Telangana Police officials said, adding that his visits were infrequent and largely personal in nature.
Police investigations revealed that Akram had limited contact with his family in Hyderabad over the last 27 years. He reportedly visited India on six occasions after settling in Australia, mainly for family-related matters such as property issues and to meet his elderly parents. Notably, officials said he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s death.
“The family members have expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation,” the Telangana Police stated. They further clarified that the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, appeared to have no local connection with Telangana or India.
Sources quoted in the media said the Indian team will include officers from state police units and central intelligence agencies. Once in Australia, the team will work closely with Australian law enforcement and security agencies to examine Akram’s background, travel history, and ideological trajectory.
A key focus will be Akram’s visit to India three to four years ago, reportedly to meet his mother. Indian agencies are seeking clarity on the purpose of the visit, the locations he travelled to, individuals he met, and whether the trip had any bearing on his ideological evolution or operational planning.
Investigators are also assessing Akram’s ideological leanings, including the possibility of online radicalisation and exposure to extremist propaganda. Authorities are examining whether the attack was driven by organised anti-Jewish hatred or influenced by global Islamist narratives and anti-Israel propaganda networks.
While the possibility of lone-wolf radicalisation has not been ruled out, officials are also exploring whether Akram had any formal or informal links with terror outfits. One of the most sensitive aspects of the probe is determining whether he maintained contacts, sympathisers, or dormant support networks, including potential sleeper cells, either in India or elsewhere.
Indian agencies have already begun analysing Akram’s digital footprint, including his online activity, use of encrypted communication platforms, financial transactions, and any suspicious money transfers. Investigators are also looking for signs of ideological handlers or external logistical support that may have facilitated the attack.
Sources in media emphasised that India’s decision to join the investigation is precautionary but essential, given the Indian passport link and Akram’s past travel to India. The joint probe aims to determine whether the Bondi Beach attack was an isolated act of violence or part of a broader pattern of transnational radicalisation.
