Bondi Beach Terror Attack

Key Timeline and Factors in Radicalization:

No Indian Link: No criminal or extremist record in India; family unaware of radical views.

2019 ASIO Probe: Sajid and son investigated; Sajid showed no radicalisation.

Son’s Extremist Links: Naveed connected to pro-ISIS networks and radical preachers.

Philippines Trip (Nov 2025): Father and son visited Mindanao; training angle under probe.

Family Influence: Experts suggest possible late radicalisation influenced by the son.

Telangana police have confirmed that Sajid Akram, one of the two gunmen responsible for the deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, was originally from Hyderabad, India, shedding light on the background of the perpetrators behind Australia's worst mass shooting in decades.

The attack occurred on Sunday evening during the "Chanukah by the Sea" event, a joyful celebration marking the first day of Hanukkah overlooking the iconic Bondi Beach. Father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, allegedly opened fire on the gathering, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more in what Australian authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist act inspired by the Islamic State.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, was critically injured and remains under guard in hospital. The duo used legally owned firearms, prompting immediate calls for reforms to Australia's strict gun laws.

In a statement on Tuesday, Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivdhar Reddy confirmed Sajid Akram's Indian roots. "Sajid Akram, 50, completed his B.Com in Hyderabad and migrated to Australia," Reddy told reporters. He had limited contact with family in India and last visited Hyderabad in 2022. Indian police noted that Akram emigrated in the late 1990s, initially on a student visa that later converted to residency.

The revelation has added an international dimension to the investigation. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as a "deliberate act targeting Jewish people," while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar issued strong denunciations. 

Authorities revealed that the Akrams traveled to the Philippines in November 2025, where they allegedly received military-style training. Improvised explosive devices were found in their vehicle, and an Islamic State flag was reportedly draped over the windshield.

Naveed Akram had been assessed by Australia's domestic intelligence agency ASIO in 2019 due to associations with an Islamic State-linked cell, but was not deemed an active threat at the time. 

The attack has reignited debate over gun control in Australia, where mass shootings are rare following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that led to sweeping reforms. Sajid Akram held a valid firearms license for recreational hunting, owning multiple weapons used in the assault. Leaders across states have agreed to renegotiate the National Firearms Agreement.

As Sydney mourns, vigils have drawn thousands, with floral tributes piling up at Bondi Pavilion. The Jewish community, particularly hard-hit, has received global support amid rising concerns over antisemitism.

Investigations continue into the duo's radicalization and potential overseas links, as Australia grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event.