Bondi Beach Attackers Influenced by ISIS Ideology: PM Anthony Albanese

Darwin, 16 December: The father and son suspected of carrying out a deadly attack during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney were motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

According to the prime minister, the two suspects—identified as Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Navid Akram—opened fire indiscriminately during the event on Sunday evening, killing 15 people. Authorities have classified the incident as an act of “antisemitic terrorism,” though they have so far released limited details about the deeper motives behind the attack.

Prime Minister Albanese said the attack appeared to be inspired by ISIS ideology, which he described as a belief system that has operated for more than a decade and promotes hatred and indiscriminate violence. He added that the father and son had become radicalized prior to carrying out the shooting.

Albanese also revealed that Navid Akram had come under the surveillance of Australia’s intelligence agencies as early as 2019, but at the time he was not assessed as an imminent threat.

Witnesses said the attackers fired at people gathered for the celebration for around 10 minutes using a long-barreled firearm. During a subsequent police response, the father, Sajid Akram, aged 50, was shot dead.

Navid Akram was arrested in critical condition and remains hospitalized under police guard, currently in a coma.

On Monday, mourners gathered near Bondi Beach to lay flowers at a temporary memorial for the victims. Jewish community leaders were among those who paid tribute, prompting authorities to increase security in the area.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing.