A quiet beach day turned into chaos as gunfire erupted at Bondi Beach, leaving a community in shock and searching for answers. What led to this tragic event?
Australia’s intelligence service is reported to have investigated Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram (Image: -)
Australia’s domestic intelligence service is reported to have previously investigated Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram over alleged links to Islamic State, reports The Telegraph.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, were named as the terror suspects behind the attack on Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah in Sydney on Sunday evening local time.
According to reports, Naveed Akram, a recently unemployed bricklayer, was placed on a watchlist in 2019 and was believed to have pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group, the Australian Broadcast Corporation said. It has also emerged that Sajid Akram, described as a small business owner, incredibly held licences for recreational hunting and owned six guns despite his son’s record of being known to authorities, according to police.
ASIO and local police confirmed Naveed Akram was “known” to authorities, but said he was not considered an “immediate” threat.
Weapons and police response
On Sunday, the two men travelled to Australia’s most famous beach carrying long-arm rifles and homemade bombs before opening fire on hundreds of people gathered for “Chanukah by the Sea”.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Naveed Akram, who remains in hospital under armed guard, is expected to survive his injuries.
“What is really important is to say we do have a 24-year-old male in hospital at the moment,” the Commissioner said on Monday afternoon.
“Based on his medical condition, it’s likely that person may face criminal charges.
“I’m very mindful of not prejudicing any prosecution of that person put before the court.”
Foreign links under investigation
Israeli authorities believe the Sydney terror attack may have involved an Iranian-backed foreign terror cell.
Officials cited Iran as a key suspect and said potential links to Hezbollah, Hamas and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba were being examined, according to Israeli media reports.
Police also recovered a black and white IS flag from a vehicle linked to the suspects while searching for explosives.
Victims and ongoing investigation
Sixteen people were killed, including one of the shooters, and 42 were taken to hospital in one of the deadliest attacks in Australia’s history. The youngest victim, Matilda, was aged just 10.
Sajid Akram was killed during a shootout with police after firing on beachgoers for more than 10 minutes. His son remains under police guard in hospital.
Officers have searched the family home in Bonnyrigg, in Sydney’s west, as well as an Airbnb in Campsie where the pair had been staying.
Relatives said the men had told them they were spending the weekend scuba diving and swimming.
Australian authorities have not publicly confirmed any foreign involvement in the attack.
Intelligence sources said the assault appeared carefully planned and showed signs consistent with Unit 910, Hezbollah’s external operations arm.
Mother defends gunman son
The mother of Naveed Akram has insisted her son is “a good boy”.
Speaking as police surrounded the family home, Verena said she could not believe he was involved in a terror attack.
She told the Sydney Morning Herald: “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.”
