SYDNEY, DEC 15 /DNA/: Australian authorities are investigating alleged links between the two gunmen involved in yesterday’s deadly shooting near Bondi Beach and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, according to local media and counter-terrorism sources.
The attackers have been identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was killed at the scene, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who remains hospitalized in critical condition. Dozens of floral tributes were laid near the site of the attack as shocked residents gathered to mourn the victims.
According to reports, Sajid Akram arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted into a partner visa in 2001 and subsequently into resident return visas. He held a valid firearms licence for recreational hunting and was an active member of a gun club.
Naveed Akram, an Australian-born citizen, first came to the attention of authorities in October 2019. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at the time an assessment concluded there was “no indication of any ongoing threat or risk of him engaging in violence.”
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Naveed Akram had been examined over alleged close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State-linked terrorism cell. ABC further reported that counter-terrorism police believe both gunmen had pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group, a claim now forming a central part of the investigation.
Police believe the attackers prepared for the assault at a short-term rental property in Campsie, located about a 30-minute drive from Bondi Beach. The single-storey property has become a key focus of the ongoing probe. Officers also raided the gunmen’s family home last night, approximately an hour’s drive from the attack site, as part of coordinated counter-terrorism operations.
A former neighbour of the family told the BBC she was stunned upon seeing the news. “When I saw the shooting on television, I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, it can’t be them,’” she said.
Authorities have tightened security across Sydney while investigations continue. Police say they are examining the attackers’ movements, communications, and possible networks to determine whether others were involved or had prior knowledge of the attack. The incident has once again raised concerns over lone-actor terrorism and radicalization despite prior assessments by security agencies.
