Bondi Beach Shooting Leaves 15 Dead as Father‑Son Attackers Identified

A 15‑person death toll in a Bondi Beach Hanukkah gathering marks Australia’s worst shooting in decades.

Attack Overview

On Sunday, gunmen opened fire on crowds at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. Police shot the 50‑year‑old father of the attackers and the 24‑year‑old son was hospitalized with critical injuries.

Suspects and Background

Investigators named the father Sajid Akram and the son Naveed Akram. The father is a licensed gun owner who arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa and later held a resident return visa. The son, an Australian‑born citizen, first attracted the attention of the Australian intelligence agency in October 2019. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the son was examined because of associations with others, but the investigation found no indication of an ongoing threat or violence. The son was not on a counter‑terrorism watchlist.

Investigations and Police Response

Police found improvised explosive devices in a car and raided an Airbnb in Campsie, close to Bondi Beach, where the men had been staying. A property in Bonnyrigg, 22 miles from Sydney’s central business district, was also searched. Residents reported seeing armed police cordon off their street during the unfolding of the attack. The father was killed on scene; the son suffered critical injuries.

Community Reaction

Neighbors described the family as quiet and normal. “It’s a quiet area, very quiet,” said 66‑year‑old Lemanatua Fatu, who lives across the street. “People mind their own business, doing their own thing — until now.” A woman who identified herself as the suspects’ wife said the men were planning a fishing trip and that her son “doesn’t have a firearm.” She added, “Anyone would wish to have a son like my son.”

Expert Insight

Andrew Silke, a professor of criminology at Royal Holloway University, told NBC News that family connections can be a significant risk factor in extremist involvement. He noted that attacks by brothers are more common than by father‑son pairs and that usually the older member introduces the younger to the ideology. “There are signs,” Silke said.

Gun Law and Government Response

The father had held a firearms licence since 2015, qualifying for a recreational hunting licence and membership in a gun club. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the licence met all eligibility criteria and that the gun club membership was the basis for the licence. The government is considering measures to limit the number of firearms an individual can hold, restrict licences to Australian citizens, and narrow the types of weapons deemed legal. Lanyon promised that “no stone will be left unturned” as the investigation continues.

Key Takeaways

• 15 people were killed in Bondi Beach, the deadliest Australian shooting in decades.
• The attackers are father Sajid Akram, a licensed gun owner, and his son Naveed Akram, who had been investigated for extremist links but was not on a watchlist.
• Police are reviewing gun laws and the extent of prior intelligence on the suspects.

The tragic event has prompted renewed scrutiny of gun regulations and efforts to counter antisemitism in Australia.