Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that the father-son duo responsible for the deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach appeared to have been radicalised by Islamic State (IS) ideology before carrying out the attack that left 15 people dead.
The gunmen, identified as Sajid Akram (50) and his son Naveed Akram (24), opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration known as Chanukah by the Sea on Sunday evening. The event was being held at one of Australia’s most iconic beaches and was attended by hundreds of families, including children.
What Prime Minister Albanese Said
Speaking publicly for the first time about the suspected motive, Albanese suggested the attackers had embraced extremist beliefs prior to committing what he described as an act of “mass murder.”
“It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,” Albanese said.
“The ideology that has been around for more than a decade that led to this ideology of hate, and in this case, a preparedness to engage in mass murder.”
Authorities have officially classified the attack as an anti-Semitic act of terrorism, though details of the radicalisation process are still emerging.
Prior Intelligence Awareness
Albanese revealed that Naveed Akram had previously come to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agencies in 2019, but was not assessed as an immediate threat at the time.
“He was drawn to their attention because of his association with others. Two of the people he was associated with were charged and went to jail, but he was not seen at that time to be a person of interest,” the Prime Minister said.
Details of the Attack
Armed with long-barrelled firearms, the attackers fired indiscriminately at crowds on the beach for approximately 10 minutes before police intervened. Sajid Akram was shot dead at the scene by police, while Naveed Akram was seriously wounded, arrested, and remains in a coma under police guard in hospital.
Health officials said on Tuesday that 25 people are still receiving treatment, with 10 in critical condition. Several of the injured are children.
Heroic Bystander Identified
Among the injured is a man who was filmed tackling and disarming one of the assailants before pointing the weapon away and placing it on the ground. The man was later identified by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke as Ahmed al Ahmed, who has been widely praised for his bravery.
Attack Shocks the Nation
The violence erupted at the close of a summer day when thousands of people had gathered at Bondi Beach, a cornerstone of Australia’s cultural life. The Jewish festival featured food stalls, face painting, and a petting zoo and was intended as a family-friendly celebration of Hanukkah.
The attack has sent shockwaves across Australia and renewed concerns about homegrown extremism, lone-wolf radicalisation, and the protection of religious communities.
Investigations into the attack and the attackers’ radicalisation remain ongoing.