HYDERABAD: One of the two attackers involved in the Bondi Beach shooting on Sunday, which left 16 dead including one of the gunmen, has been confirmed to be an Indian national.
Sajid Akram, 50, hailed from Tolichowki in Hyderabad, Telangana, and had moved to Australia in 1998 on a student visa. He retained his Indian passport after relocating and married a European woman.
Indian police confirmed that his family, who still live in Hyderabad, had limited contact with him. They stated they were unaware of any extremist beliefs or activities that may have led to his radicalisation. His elder brother is a medical doctor, and his father passed away in 2017, an event Sajid reportedly did not attend.
Sajid’s 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was born in Australia and holds Australian citizenship. He was shot by police during the attack and remains in critical condition in hospital. Police confirmed that the vehicle used by Naveed contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags. Videos have surfaced showing him preaching outside suburban Sydney train stations.
Indian authorities confirmed that Sajid visited India six times after migrating to Australia, primarily for family reasons, and had no criminal record before leaving India. The father and son’s motivations for the Philippines trip remain under investigation. Australian authorities continue to coordinate with India, with investigations ongoing into whether the attackers had any direct links to terrorist organisations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the two men were likely radicalised by Daesh ideology. Police emphasised that these were the actions of individuals aligned with a terrorist organisation rather than any religion.
Philippine connection
Australian authorities revealed that the father and son travelled to the Philippines last month, entering on November 1 and departing on November 28. Sajid entered as an Indian national, while Naveed used his Australian passport. They reportedly spent the majority of their time in Davao, an urban centre in Mindanao known for insurgent activity, although Philippine authorities have not confirmed any formal terrorist training during their stay.
Mindanao has a history of pro-Daesh militant activity, most notably the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, who held the city of Marawi under siege in 2017. Despite a reduction in insurgent activity since then, the Philippine military continues to track leaders of terrorist groups in the region.
The Bondi Beach massacre is Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. Victims included a rabbi with five children, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan. Two police officers remain in critical but stable condition.
