Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, who opened fire on people celebrating Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, were likely driven by ‘Islamic State ideology.’ The deadly attack left 15 people dead and has become one of Australia’s worst mass shootings in more than three decades.
PM points to Islamic State ideology behind Bondi Beach attack
Speaking to national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday, Albanese gave the strongest indication yet about what may have radicalised the father-son duo. ‘It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,’ he said. In a separate interview, he noted that the world has been battling extremism since the rise of ISIS more than a decade ago and described the ideology as hateful and dangerous.
Authorities said the attackers deliberately targeted the Jewish community with the intention of spreading fear. While investigators are still piecing together details, police later found an Islamic State flag and improvised explosive devices in the attackers’ car at Bondi Beach. Australia had banned the Islamic State of East Asia (ISEA), a regional affiliate of ISIS, as a terrorist organisation in 2017.
Intelligence lapses, Philippines trip and hero who stopped the gunman
The attack has also raised serious questions about whether it could have been prevented. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Akrams had travelled to the Philippines in November, just weeks before the shooting. Citing multiple police sources, the report said the visit followed patterns often linked to Islamist radicalisation.
Albanese revealed that Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old unemployed bricklayer, had come to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agency in 2019. At that time, he was interviewed along with his family and associates but was not considered an imminent threat.
On the day of the attack, Naveed reportedly told his mother he was going on a fishing trip. Instead, police believe he and his 50-year-old father were hiding in a rental apartment planning the assault. Armed with long-barrelled guns, they fired on the beach for 10 minutes before police shot and killed Sajid Akram. Naveed remains in a coma under police guard.
Albanese also praised Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian immigrant fruit stall owner, who bravely tackled one of the attackers. Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn later visited al-Ahmed in hospital, conveying King Charles III’s gratitude and support.
