Australian police confirmed on Monday that the death toll from the terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach has reached 16. Investigators identified the two gunmen as a father and son and stated that no other suspects are being sought. According to CBS News, US intelligence sources indicated that one of the attackers was a Pakistani national. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities made quick progress in the investigation overnight and are confident that only two people carried out the attack.
Who Are Sajid and Naveed Akram?
NSW Police confirmed on Monday that only two gunmen were involved in Sunday’s attack, which killed 15 people. The search for a third suspect has been called off. Law enforcement sources told ABC News and the Sydney Morning Herald that one of the attackers is 24-year-old Naveed Akram. He was caught at the scene and taken to the hospital, where he remains under police guard in critical but stable condition.
His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, a fruit shop owner, was shot by police during the attack and died at the scene. Authorities also revealed that the father-son duo had told their family they were going on a weekend fishing trip to Jervis Bay before carrying out the attack.
Here’s what police commissioner said
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that authorities made quick progress in the investigation overnight and are confident that only two individuals carried out the attack. “We have progressed at pace overnight with that investigation, and as a result of investigations undertaken, I can say that we are not looking for a further offender,” said Lanyon. “We are satisfied that there were two offenders involved in yesterday’s incident,” he further added.
Police stated that one of the attackers was shot and killed at the scene, while the second suspect is hospitalized in critical but stable condition. “One is deceased, the second is in critical but stable condition in the hospital at the moment,” said the commissioner.
Bondi Beach Shooting: Death toll rises
Authorities confirmed that at least 16 people were killed in the shooting, which occurred Sunday evening during a Jewish community event called “Chanukah by the Sea” at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, marking the start of Hanukkah. At least 40 people were injured in the attack, including two police officers, officials said. Police have classified the incident as a terrorist attack, citing the targeted nature of the event and the weapons used.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes at Bondi as “shocking and distressing.” Meanwhile, Premier Minns expressed support for Australia’s Jewish community, saying the state stands with those who lost loved ones during the religious festival.
