Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the father–son duo behind the deadly Bondi Beach mass shooting appeared to be motivated by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology, offering one of the clearest indications yet that the attack was an act of jihadist-inspired terrorism.
Sajid Akram (50) and his son Naveed Akram (24) opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, killing 15 people. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed remains in critical condition in hospital under police guard.
Authorities had earlier described the incident as an antisemitic terrorist attack but had not detailed the ideological drivers. Speaking on Monday, Albanese said initial investigations suggest the attackers had been radicalised.
“It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,” Albanese said. “The ideology that has been around for more than a decade — an ideology of hate — and in this case, a preparedness to engage in mass murder.”
The Prime Minister also revealed that Naveed Akram had come to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agencies in 2019 due to his associations, though he was not assessed as an imminent 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 then as a person of interest,” Albanese said.
During the attack, the gunmen fired long-barrelled weapons for nearly 10 minutes before police intervened. Naveed Akram was arrested after sustaining serious injuries and is currently in a coma.
Health officials said on Tuesday that 25 victims remain hospitalised, including 10 in critical condition. Several of the injured are children.
Among those credited with saving lives is Ahmed al Ahmed, who was captured on video tackling and disarming one of the attackers before placing the weapon on the ground. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke publicly identified him and praised his bravery.
The attack unfolded at the end of a busy summer day, with thousands of people at Bondi Beach. Hundreds were attending “Chanukah by the Sea,” a family-friendly event marking the start of the Jewish festival, featuring food stalls, children’s activities, and live celebrations.
Australian leaders have condemned the attack as a targeted act of terror and pledged full support to the Jewish community as investigations continue.