Australia is reeling after a devastating mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed during a Jewish festival gathering. Authorities have confirmed that the attackers were a father and son—50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.
Shooters Identified, Police Reveal New Details
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that Sajid Akram was fatally shot by responding officers, while Naveed Akram survived and is currently hospitalised with serious injuries. Officials believe the two men were of Pakistani origin, according to intelligence shared with CBS News. A leaked image of the elder Akram’s driver’s licence, where he appears to wear a shirt resembling a Pakistani cricket jersey, is circulating widely online.
Australia’s Home Minister Tony Burke confirmed that Naveed was born in Australia, while his father moved to the country in 1998 on a student visa and later obtained residency through partner and return visas.
Chaos During the Hanukkah Event
The gunfire erupted just before 7 p.m. during Chanukah by the Sea, a festival event attended by around 1,000 people. What began as a typical summer evening at the world-famous beach turned into panic as shots echoed across the shore.
Witness videos show beachgoers—many still in swimwear—running for safety. The attackers, clad in black, were seen firing what appeared to be a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun from a footbridge leading to the beach.
In a moment that has since gone viral, a bystander later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed tackled one of the shooters and wrestled the weapon away, an act praised by NSW Premier Chris Minns as “heroic.” A fundraiser supporting him surpassed A$200,000 by Monday morning.
Community in Mourning as Investigation Deepens
The victims ranged from a 10-year-old child to an 87-year-old senior citizen. At least 42 injured individuals remain hospitalised, several in critical condition. Among the deceased was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the event organisers.
Police confirmed that one of the gunmen was previously known to security agencies but added that there had been no intelligence suggesting an imminent attack. Authorities have since raided the family’s residence in Bonnyrigg, where a heavy police presence was maintained.
A Nation United in Grief and Anger
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who placed flowers at the scene, described the incident as “an act of pure evil” and the most significant antisemitic attack Australia has seen in decades. He assured the Jewish community of full national support and vowed to combat rising antisemitism.
Global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offered their condolences and support.
Australia Confronts Its Worst Mass Shooting Since 1996
Mass shootings are rare in Australia due to stringent gun laws enacted after the Port Arthur massacre nearly 30 years ago. Sunday’s tragedy now stands as the deadliest since that era, sparking renewed concerns about hate-motivated violence.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the attack, linking the rise in antisemitic incidents worldwide to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
