One of the two men involved in the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday; which left 15 people dead during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration; was originally from Hyderabad and continued to hold an Indian passport, police have confirmed.
The attack has been described by Australian authorities as a terrorist act inspired by the so-called Islamic State group.
The primary suspect, Sajid Akram (50), was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram (24), who allegedly carried out the attack alongside him, survived and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital under police guard.
Background of Sajid Akram
According to the Telangana Director General of Police, Sajid Akram was a native of Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in November 1998 on a student visa.
He had completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad before leaving India in search of employment.
Akram lived in Australia for nearly 27 years and maintained only limited contact with his family in Hyderabad during that period.
Senior Telangana police officials stated that there is no indication of any operational or ideological link between his alleged radicalisation and India.
Akram last visited Hyderabad in 2022. While he continued to hold an Indian passport, his children—a son and a daughter—were born in Australia and are Australian citizens.
Police said Akram’s relationship with his extended family in Hyderabad had broken down many years ago due to family disputes, and relatives had cut ties with him long before the attack. He reportedly did not attend his father’s funeral prayers in 2017.
After settling in Australia, Akram married Venera Grosso, described by police as a woman of European origin. The couple had two children and lived permanently in Australia.
The Bondi Beach Attack
The shooting occurred on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most prominent public locations. Gunfire erupted among families and community members gathered for the event, killing 15 people.
On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the incident was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.”
“The suspected attackers, callous in the way they allegedly coordinated the assault, appeared to have no regard for the age or vulnerability of their victims,” Barrett said, adding that the focus seemed to be on causing maximum casualties.
Authorities confirmed that the two suspects were a father and son. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram was injured and taken into custody.
A vehicle used in the attack, registered in the younger suspect’s name, was seized by police. Investigators said they recovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to the so-called Islamic State group from the vehicle.
Philippines Trip Under Probe
Australian authorities are also investigating a trip the two suspects made to the Philippines in the month before the attack.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son entered the country on November 1 and left on November 28.
Sajid Akram travelled on an Indian passport, while Naveed Akram used an Australian passport. The pair declared Davao as their final destination and booked return flights to Sydney.
Davao is located on the island of Mindanao, a region that has previously seen the presence of Islamist groups such as Abu Sayyaf, which had pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State in the past.
However, the Philippine military said it could not immediately confirm reports that the two men received any form of military-style training during their stay.
Security officials added that militant groups in the region have been significantly weakened over the years, with no recent signs of foreign fighters operating there.
Australian officials said the purpose of the Philippines trip and the locations visited remain under active investigation.