The recent horrific attack on Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed, was executed by father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram. Police discovered homemade ISIS symbols and improvised bombs hidden in their vehicle at the scene.
Australian federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett described the incident as “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.” The suspects had been in parts of the Philippines known for IS-linked groups just weeks before the tragedy, though it isn’t confirmed whether they received training there.
Investigators found two black ISIS flags and several explosive devices in the car that belonged to the younger Akram. Both men had traveled to the Philippines from Nov. 1 to Nov. 28, according to the Bureau of Immigration, yet the extent of their involvement with the organization remains unclear.
Barrett emphasized that while the early picture points to an IS‑inspired plot carried out by this father‑son pair, “These are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organization, not a religion.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the extremist motivations but insisted there was no evidence the attackers were part of a larger terror cell. He said, “The clear advice that we have at this point is there’s no evidence of collusion, there’s no evidence that these people were part of a cell. Clearly, they were motivated by this extremist ideology.” He added that more information might surface, but for now the two appear to have acted alone.
During a 10‑minute spree at a Hanukkah gathering, the Akram duo opened fire on hundreds of attendees. The elder Akram, 50, was shot dead by police, while the 24‑year‑old son was taken to a hospital for treatment.
ASIO had previously investigated the younger Akram in 2019 due to his links with two former inmates, though he was not on a watch list when the attack occurred. Albanese noted that ASIO’s role is “to interview anyone who is connected in any way, and they go through, including family members and others.” He also stated, “They determined that there was no evidence of this person planning or considering or indeed promoting any act of violence, or any act which could be deemed to be antisemitic, targeting the Jewish community, which is what occurred.”
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