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Australian authorities have identified Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, as the terror suspects behind the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that targeted Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah on Sunday evening. The attack, now formally declared a terrorist incident, left 16 people dead and at least 40 injured, including a 10-year-old girl. The oldest victim was 87, while five others remain in critical condition.
Investigators say the father and son drove to Australia’s most famous beach armed with long-arm rifles and homemade explosive devices before opening fire on crowds attending the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, ABC News reported. New South Wales Police confirmed that Sajid Akram was shot dead by officers at the scene, while Naveed Akram was critically wounded and remains under police guard in hospital.
Shooter Naveed Akram On Intelligence Radar
Authorities revealed that Naveed Akram, a recently unemployed bricklayer, had previously been on the radar of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO. According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), he was added to a security watchlist in 2019 over suspected ties to an Islamic State (IS) cell in Sydney and was believed to have pledged allegiance to the terror group. ASIO and police confirmed he was “known” to authorities but was not assessed as an “immediate” threat prior to the attack.
Islamic State Flags, Explosives Recovered
Subsequent raids led to the recovery of two Islamic State flags and explosive materials, ABC News reported. Police said a black-and-white IS flag was found inside a vehicle linked to the suspects while it was searched for additional explosives. Investigators now believe both men had pledged allegiance to IS, though the investigation is ongoing.
Sajid Akram, a small business owner, legally owned six firearms and held a valid gun licence, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed. Several of the weapons, including long guns commonly used for hunting, were recovered at the scene and from a property searched during the investigation.
Police Officers Injured, Charges Possible
Two police officers were shot during the exchange of fire and remain in serious but stable condition. Commissioner Lanyon said Naveed Akram could face criminal charges depending on his medical condition, without providing further details.
Family members said the pair had told relatives they were going on a fishing trip before the attack. Naveed Akram’s mother, Verena, told the Sydney Morning Herald she struggled to believe her son’s involvement, describing him as quiet and routine-driven. Authorities have urged the public to avoid Bondi Beach as counterterror and forensic operations continue, calling the shooting one of Australia’s deadliest terror attacks in decades.