Father and Son Identified as Perpetrators in Deadly Sydney Bondi Beach Attack on Jewish Celebration

The gunmen responsible for the deadly attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach have been identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram. This tragic incident resulted in at least 15 fatalities.

According to police reports, Sajid Akram was killed during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement at the scene, while his son Naveed was apprehended and transported to hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition under police supervision.

Australian media sources indicate that the pair utilized "long arms" to open fire on crowds. Sajid Akram reportedly possessed licenses for six firearms, all of which police believe were employed during the attack.

Reports suggest that the two men had informed family members they were heading to the South Coast for a fishing expedition. While Naveed was arrested at the scene, his father, who owned a fruit shop, died during the police confrontation, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that Sajid Akram entered Australia on a student visa in 1998, which was later converted to a partner visa in 2001. Since then, he had been on a resident return visa.

Naveed's mother, Verena, revealed that her son last made contact with the family on Sunday morning, hours before the shooting occurred. "He rings me up [on Sunday] and said, Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We're going to eat now, and then this morning, and we're going to stay home now because it's very hot," she recounted, adding that he claimed to be in Jervis Bay with his father.

Verena expressed inability to identify her son from images captured at the scene and firmly maintained that she did not believe he could be involved in violence or extremist activities.

"He doesn't have a firearm. He doesn't even go out. He doesn't mix around with friends. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't go to bad places... he goes to work, he comes home, he goes to exercise, and that's it," she stated.

"Anyone would wish to have a son like my son... he's a good boy," she added.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Naveed Akram was an unemployed bricklayer who had lost his position approximately two months prior when his employer became insolvent. His mother mentioned that he had been actively seeking employment.

According to Verena, her son, a former student of Cabramatta High School, was not particularly sociable and did not appear to spend significant time online. She noted that he enjoyed fishing, scuba diving, swimming, and exercising.

Naveed Akram was apparently tagged in a 2022 social media post indicating that he had completed his Koran studies at the Al-Murad Institute in Heckenberg, western Sydney.

The family resides in a three-bedroom house purchased in 2024, having previously lived in Cabramatta. Naveed shared the home with his parents, his 22-year-old sister, and 20-year-old brother. His mother is a homemaker who also cares for her elderly mother nearby.

The shooting at Australia's most renowned surf beach on a clear Sunday created waves of panic among terrified crowds at a tourist destination that embodies the nation's affinity for coastal life.

Police reported that the youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl who succumbed to her injuries at a children's hospital. The oldest victim was 87 years of age.

An additional 42 individuals were hospitalized, including two police officers.