The tragic and shocking details surrounding the terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach are continuing to emerge, with the mother of one of the alleged gunmen, Naveed Akram, describing her 24-year-old son as a “good boy” who was incapable of violence.
Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akhtar (a fruit shop owner, identified in earlier reports), were identified as the two assailants who opened fire on a crowd gathered for a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sunday evening. The police have confirmed the attack was an act of antisemitic terrorism.
The Mother’s Account: ‘We Were Going Fishing’
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Naveed’s mother, Verena, told reporters that she did not believe her son could be involved and recounted their final conversation just hours before the mass shooting:
“He rings me up [on Sunday] and said, ‘Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We’re going … to eat now, and we’re going to stay home now because it’s very hot’,” she said.
Verena stated that both her son and his father had reportedly told the family they were heading to Australia’s South Coast for a fishing trip.
She insisted that Naveed was not extremist or violent:
“He doesn’t have a firearm. He doesn’t even go out. He doesn’t mix around with friends. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places … he goes to work, he comes home, he goes to exercise, and that’s it. Anyone would wish to have a son like my son … he’s a good boy,” she told the media.
The Attackers and the Death Toll
The attack, which involved a father-son team toting long-barrelled guns, tragically killed at least 15 civilians and injured dozens of others.
- Sajid Akhtar (the father, 50) was killed at the scene during a face-off with police.
- Naveed Akram (the son, 24) was arrested and is currently in custody in a critical condition in hospital.
- The death toll stands at 16, including one of the gunmen.
(Note: Earlier reports referenced in the user-provided text suggested Naveed was arrested and his father was killed, with the death toll at 16, including one gunman.)
PM Albanese Condemns ‘Pure Evil’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the nation in mourning on Monday, calling the shooting “an act of pure evil” and antisemitism.
- National Mourning: Albanese confirmed that national flags were being flown at half-mast to mourn the dead.
- Condemnation: Laying flowers at the entrance of the Bondi Pavilion, the Prime Minister stated: “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, and associated with celebrations.”
Authorities continue to investigate the motive and any potential links the attackers may have had to extremist groups, with the tragedy marking the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since 1996.