The deadly attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach has been traced to a father-son duo, leaving Australia grappling with its worst mass shooting in three decades and raising urgent questions about motive, gun access, and radicalisation.
Australia is reeling after a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a public Hanukkah celebration claimed at least 16 lives, including a 10-year-old child and an 87-year-old man. Police have identified the two attackers as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, in what authorities have described as a lone-actor assault with no further suspects involved.
The incident unfolded on a clear Sunday afternoon at one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations, sending crowds of families, tourists, and festival-goers fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted near the shoreline.
What Happened at Bondi Beach
According to New South Wales Police, the father and son opened fire on attendees gathered for a Jewish Hanukkah event, marking one of the deadliest acts of mass violence Australia has witnessed since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Sajid Akram was shot dead during a confrontation with police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, was apprehended alive and taken to hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition under armed police guard. Authorities have confirmed that no other shooters were involved, and an initial search for a possible third suspect has been called off.
Police said at least 42 people were injured, including two officers who sustained gunshot wounds while responding to the attack.
Who Were the Suspects?
Sajid Akram: Long-Time Resident, Licensed Gun Owner
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, later transitioning to a partner visa in 2001, and had since been residing in the country on a resident return visa.
Sajid reportedly owned a small fruit shop and was legally licensed to possess six firearms. Police believe all six weapons may have been used during the attack. Authorities are now scrutinising how such an extensive private arsenal was obtained and whether any warning signs were missed.
Naveed Akram: Unemployed, Low Profile
Naveed Akram, 24, is described by acquaintances and family members as a quiet, introverted young man who had recently lost his job as a bricklayer after his employer became insolvent.
According to reports, Naveed had been unemployed for nearly two months and was actively searching for work. He attended Cabramatta High School and lived with his parents and two younger siblings in a three-bedroom home purchased by the family in 2024.
Despite his alleged role in the attack, family members insist he showed no signs of violent behaviour.
‘He Was a Good Boy’: Mother Speaks Out
Naveed’s mother, Verena, told Australian media she was shocked by the allegations and struggled to identify her son in images circulating after the shooting.
“He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places,” she said. “He goes to work, he comes home, he exercises. Anyone would wish to have a son like my son.”
She said Naveed had last contacted the family on Sunday morning, telling her he was in Jervis Bay, where he claimed to be on a fishing and scuba-diving trip with his father.
Authorities later confirmed that the pair had told relatives they were heading south for a weekend fishing trip a claim now believed to have been a cover story.
Investigating Motive and Background
While police have not officially commented on ideological or extremist motivations, investigators are examining the suspects’ online activity, religious associations, and travel history.
Australian media reported that Naveed Akram had been tagged in a 2022 social media post indicating he had completed Quranic studies at the Al-Murad Institute in western Sydney. Officials, however, have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, emphasising that no formal link to organised extremist groups has been established so far.
Authorities have also refrained from publicly discussing the suspects’ nationality, though international media outlets have reported they were of Pakistani descent.
A Nation in Shock
The Bondi Beach shooting has shaken a country long considered a global model for strict gun control laws. The attack has reignited debate over firearm licensing, mental health screening, and intelligence monitoring, particularly in cases involving multiple weapon ownership.
“This was a tragedy that struck at the heart of who we are,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, calling the incident “a devastating assault on innocent life.”
As Australia mourns the victims, flags have been lowered, vigils have been held across Sydney, and security has been heightened at religious and public gatherings nationwide.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities promising a thorough review into how the attack was planned and how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
