A father-son duo, Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram, were charged with 59 offences after a planned attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration that left 15 people dead and dozens wounded.
The Planned Attack
The men, 24-year-old Naveed Akram and 50-year-old Sajid Akram, assembled four homemade explosive devices. Three were aluminum pipe bombs and the fourth was a tennis ball bomb that contained explosive, gunpowder and steel ball bearings. Police described the devices as “viable” IEDs, but none detonated at the event. The pair had also carried out firearms training outside Sydney, according to police documents. They recorded footage that justified the attack, which was released after Naveed’s court appearance from a Sydney hospital.
Evidence and Charges
Police released a video from Naveed Akram’s phone that shows him and his father “condemning the acts of Zionists” while also “adhere to a religiously motivated ideology linked to Islamic State.” The footage, shot in October, depicts them firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner on grassland surrounded by trees. Police allege “There is evidence that the Accused and his father meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months.” The men face 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Aftermath and Response
The attack left 15 people dead and 12 wounded, the largest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Tasmania incident. An impromptu memorial near Bondi Pavilion was removed as the beach returned to normal activity; the Sydney Jewish Museum will preserve part of it. Victims’ funerals continued, including that of French national Dan Elkayam in Woollahra. The health department reported 12 wounded remain in hospitals. The New South Wales government introduced draft laws that would make Australian citizenship a condition for a firearms licence, a measure that would have excluded Sajid Akram, an Indian citizen with a permanent resident visa.
Key Takeaways
- Naveed and Sajid Akram were charged with 59 offences after a failed bomb plot and shooting that killed 15.
- Police found video evidence of the duo’s extremist ideology and meticulous planning.
- New gun-control legislation was introduced in response to the attack.
The tragedy has sparked renewed debate over gun licensing and counter-terrorism measures in Australia.
