Bondi Beach Attack: Hyderabad-Born Man Identified as Shooter
Australian police say one attacker held Indian passport; terror probe rules out India link
- One of the Bondi Beach attackers was Hyderabad-born and held an Indian passport
- Australian authorities term the Hanukkah attack IS-inspired terrorism
- Telangana police say no operational or ideological link to India
- Father-son duo had travelled to the Philippines weeks before the attack
GG News Bureau
Sydney, 16th Dec: One of the two attackers involved in the deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, was originally from Hyderabad and continued to hold an Indian passport, Australian and Indian officials said on Tuesday.
The attacker, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police during the incident. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, who allegedly acted alongside him, survived and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital under police custody. Australian authorities have officially designated the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by the so-called Islamic State group.
The Telangana Director General of Police confirmed that Sajid Akram was a native of Hyderabad who migrated to Australia in November 1998, initially on a student visa. He had completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad before leaving India and had lived in Australia for nearly 27 years. Officials said he maintained minimal contact with his family in Hyderabad and last visited India in 2022.
Senior Telangana police officials underlined that there was no evidence of any operational or ideological link between Akram’s alleged radicalisation and India. They added that his family in Hyderabad had severed ties with him years ago following personal disputes.
Investigators said Akram married a woman of European origin after settling in Australia, and his children were born there and are Australian citizens. While Sajid Akram retained an Indian passport, his son travelled on an Australian passport.
Australian police said the father-son duo used a vehicle in the attack from which improvised explosive devices and homemade flags linked to the Islamic State group were recovered. Authorities are also investigating a trip taken by the two to the Philippines in November, where they visited the city of Davao. Philippine officials confirmed their travel but said there was no immediate evidence of militant training during their stay.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the attackers appeared “focused solely on maximising casualties,” adding that the investigation into their movements, motivations and possible international links remains ongoing.
