Sydney Bondi Beach Mass Shooting: Indian-Origin Suspect's Background and Terrorist Connections Revealed

New Delhi:

One of the two individuals responsible for the Sydney Bondi Beach mass shooting on Sunday - an incident that claimed 15 lives during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration - was originally from Hyderabad and maintained his Indian passport, despite having migrated to Australia nearly 30 years ago.

The suspect, Sajid Akram, 50, was fatally shot by police during the attack. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, who allegedly participated alongside him, survived and is currently receiving medical treatment under police supervision. Australian investigators have classified the attack as terrorism inspired by the so-called Islamic State group.

Who Is Sajid Akram

The Telangana Director General of Police reported that Sajid Akram, 50, was born in Hyderabad and emigrated to Australia in November 1998 on a student visa. Prior to leaving India in search of employment opportunities, he had completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad.

Akram had resided in Australia for approximately 27 years, maintaining only minimal contact with his family in Hyderabad throughout this period. Senior Telangana police officials emphasized that there was no evidence suggesting any operational or ideological connection between Akram's alleged radicalization and India.

Akram's most recent visit to Hyderabad occurred in 2022. While he continued to hold an Indian passport, his children - a son and a daughter - were born in Australia and hold Australian citizenship.

Investigators revealed that Akram's relationship with his extended family in Hyderabad had deteriorated years ago due to familial disputes. Relatives reportedly severed ties with him long before the attack. According to police reports, Akram did not attend his father's funeral prayers following his death in 2017.

After relocating to Australia, Akram married Venera Grosso, described by police as a woman of European descent. The couple had two children, Naveed and a daughter, and established permanent residence in Australia.

The Bondi Attack

The mass shooting occurred on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, one of Australia's most iconic public locations. Fifteen people lost their lives when gunfire erupted among families and community members gathered for the event.

On Tuesday, Australia's federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, confirmed that the incident was "a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State."

"The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or ableness of their victims," Barrett stated. "It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally."

Authorities identified the two suspects as father and son, aged 50 and 24. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram was injured and remains hospitalized.

Police seized a vehicle used by the attackers, registered to the younger suspect. Inside, investigators discovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags associated with the so-called Islamic State group.

The Philippines Trip

Australian police are investigating a trip taken by both suspects to the Philippines in the month preceding the attack.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration confirmed to the BBC that Sajid Akram and his son entered the country on November 1 and departed on November 28.

According to immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval, Sajid Akram traveled using an Indian passport, while Naveed Akram used an Australian passport, as reported by the BBC.

The pair declared the southern city of Davao as their destination and booked return flights to Sydney.

Davao is a major city on Mindanao island, a region where Islamist groups have historically operated in underdeveloped areas of the south and west. Organizations such as Abu Sayyaf had previously pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State and harbored small numbers of foreign militants.

However, the Philippine military stated it could not immediately verify reports that the two men had received "military-style training" during their stay. Philippine security officials added that years of military operations have considerably weakened militant groups in the region, with no recent indications of foreign militants operating there.

Australian officials stated that the purpose of the Philippines trip and the locations visited remain under active investigation.