Police confirm Bondi gunman was from India’s Hyderabad
Australian police have confirmed that one of the gunmen involved in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting was originally from India’s southern city of Hyderabad, as authorities continue investigations into what they say was an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack that left 15 people dead and dozens wounded.
Indian police said on Tuesday that Sajid Akram, 50, had limited contact with his family in India after migrating to Australia in 1998. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, identified by local media as the second gunman, remains in critical condition after being shot by police. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene during the police response.
The attack, which unfolded during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14, is among the deadliest mass shootings in Australia’s recent history. Authorities said the father and son fired on hundreds of people during a roughly 10-minute rampage before being confronted by police.
Telangana state police said the family of Sajid Akram had expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or any activities linked to extremism. Officials added that the factors leading to the radicalisation of the two men appeared to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.
Australian police confirmed that both men had travelled to the Philippines last month, with the father entering on an Indian passport and the son on an Australian passport. Philippine immigration authorities said the pair arrived together on November 1 and departed on November 28 after spending most of the month in the country. The purpose of the trip remains under investigation, with officials saying it is not yet conclusive whether the two had links to any terrorist organisation or received training while abroad.
Islamic State-linked networks are known to operate in parts of the southern Philippines, though their influence has been significantly reduced in recent years. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said early indications suggested the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology, stressing that the actions were those of individuals aligned with a terrorist organisation and not a religion.
Police also said that a vehicle registered to the younger gunman contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags associated with ISIS. Sajid Akram was a licensed gun owner with six registered weapons, having received his licence in 2023.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack appeared to be motivated by Islamic State ideology, noting that Australian authorities had previously interviewed Naveed Akram in 2019 but did not consider him an imminent threat at the time. He said the rise of extremist ideology over the past decade continued to pose serious global challenges.
As Australia mourns the victims, floral tributes continue to grow outside the Bondi Pavilion near the site of the shooting. Among the dead were a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl. Two police officers remain in critical but stable condition in hospital, while around 25 survivors are receiving medical care across Sydney.
The tragedy has renewed debate over Australia’s gun laws, with the federal government confirming that existing regulations are under review. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said firearm laws introduced after the Port Arthur massacre may need re-examination, while former Prime Minister John Howard warned against allowing gun law reform to distract from efforts to combat rising anti-Semitism.
The attack has also highlighted acts of bravery, including that of Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim father of two who confronted one of the gunmen and seized his rifle before being shot. He remains hospitalised and has been widely hailed as a hero, with a public fundraising campaign raising more than A$1.9 million.
Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous tourist destinations, reopened on Tuesday but remained largely empty as mourners gathered to pay their respects, reflecting a nation grappling with shock, grief, and renewed questions over extremism and public safety.
