Australia was rocked by one of its deadliest mass shootings in decades after a father and son duo opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 16, including gunman, during a Jewish festival.
The shooting has been declared a "terrorist incident", with two Islamic State (IS) flags being recovered during subsequent raids, ABC news reported.
Authorities identified the assailants as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son was taken to hospital with critical injuries. Police said the father legally owned six firearms, believed to have been used in the attack.
Also read: Bondi beach attack: New video captures tense police standoff, the moment shooter was neutralised — watchAustralian PM Anthony Albanese has proposed "tougher gun laws" saying, "The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws."
What we know so far
Who were the attackers
The two suspected gunmen behind were identified as a father and his son, authorities said. The 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was critically injured and remains hospitalised, CBS news cited New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon saying.
Moreover, investigators believe that the duo had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. Two IS flags were recovered from their car parked near Bondi Beach, with footage from the scene showing one flag placed on the vehicle’s bonnet, ABC news cited senior officials saying.
Australia’s domestic intelligence agency ASIO had previously examined Naveed Akram about six years ago due to his close links with a Sydney-based IS terror cell. He was reportedly connected to Isaak El Matari, an IS operative arrested in 2019 and later jailed for plotting an insurgency in Australia. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess confirmed that one of the attackers was known to the agency, though not assessed as an immediate threat at the time.
Shooting during Jewish festival
The shooting unfolded on a Sunday afternoon at Bondi Beach, where more than 1,000 people had gathered to celebrate Hanukkah. Armed with long-barrelled guns, the attackers indiscriminately targeted crowds at the popular tourist hotspot.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the Australian government and accused it of "pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism" in the period leading up to the shooting.
"Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders are silent and do not act," AFP quoted him saying.
Also read: Bondi Beach attack: Father and son named as suspects; death toll rises to 15How the shooting unfolded
Armed with long-barrelled guns, the father-and-son attackers opened fire on the packed tourist hotspot, triggering scenes of panic as families and visitors ran for safety, leaving behind belongings scattered across the sand.
As shots rang out, some people hid in nearby shops and buildings, while others sought cover behind beach facilities. Social media footage showed moments of bravery amid the terror, including a bystander who confronted one of the gunmen and wrestled a weapon away. Police quickly responded, shooting dead the older attacker at the scene, while his son was critically injured.
By the time the area was secured, the beachfront was littered with discarded shoes, blankets and picnic items, stark reminders of the sudden violence that shattered a festive afternoon.
'Terrorist act'
Australian authorities declared the act a "terrorist incident", with PM Anthony Albanese condemning it as "pure evil".
Also read: Who are Naveed Akram and Sajid Akram? Father-son duo identified as suspects in Bondi Beach shooting that killed 15"What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations," AFP quoted Albanese saying.
"It is forever tarnished by what has occurred last evening," he added.