SYDNEY/HYDERABAD – Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into Sunday’s mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with police in India confirming that one of the suspected gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
The attack, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration and has been classified by Australian authorities as an act of terrorism, resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Akram was shot dead at the scene by police, while his son and alleged accomplice, Naveed Akram, 24, remains in critical condition in a hospital under police guard.
Confirmation from Telangana Police
The Telangana Police, whose jurisdiction includes Hyderabad, issued a statement on Tuesday confirming Sajid Akram’s roots.
Sajid Akram was a native of Hyderabad, where he completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He migrated to Australia in November 1998, nearly 27 years ago, on a student visa and later settled there, holding an Indian passport. Police said Akram maintained only “limited contact” with his family in Hyderabad over the past two decades, visiting India only six times, primarily for family-related reasons.
- No Indian Connection to Radicalisation: Crucially, the Telangana Police stated that the factors leading to the radicalisation of the father-son duo “appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.” They also confirmed that Sajid Akram had “no adverse record” with them prior to his migration.
This clarification corrects earlier reports that had mistakenly identified the attacker as being of Pakistani origin. The police added that Naveed Akram, born in Australia, is an Australian citizen.
Terrorism Link and ISIS Ideology
Australian officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have stated that the attack was motivated by an “ideology of hate” linked to the Islamic State (IS) group. Investigators recovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to ISIS from a vehicle registered in the younger suspect’s name at the scene. The Prime Minister described the shooting as “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, and an act of terrorism,” confirming that the attackers deliberately targeted attendees of the Hanukkah event.
Suspects’ Recent Travel Under Scrutiny
Australian police are also investigating a trip the father and son took to the Philippines in November, just weeks before the attack. Philippine immigration authorities confirmed that Sajid Akram travelled on his Indian passport, while Naveed Akram used his Australian passport. The purpose of their travel to the Philippines and reports of possible “military-style training” while abroad remain under investigation. The attack, Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years, has prompted renewed calls for tightening the country’s already strict gun control laws. (Source:-BBC)
