One of the Bondi Beach gunmen, Sajid Akram, originally hailed from Hyderabad, India, with minimal contact with his homeland, say police.
Sydney/New Delhi: Australian authorities have confirmed that Sajid Akram, one of the suspects in the devastating mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, was originally from Hyderabad, India. The 50-year-old died at the scene during Sunday’s attack, which claimed 15 lives and left dozens wounded during a Hanukkah celebration.
A senior Telangana police officer confirmed Akram’s Indian origin, revealing that while he had migrated to Australia in 1998, his visits back home were infrequent—only six times in over two decades. His family, who still resides in Hyderabad, reportedly had little awareness of his ideological leanings or any potential radical behavior.
“He hadn’t even visited India when his father passed away,” the official added, highlighting Akram’s detachment from his roots.
Australian police are investigating Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed, as the perpetrators of the attack. Reports suggest that the father-son duo may have undergone military-style training in the Philippines shortly before the attack. They were in the country from November 1 to 28, according to Philippine immigration records.
Authorities also noted that Naveed had previously been flagged in 2019 for suspected links to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terror cell, although no conclusive threat was found at the time.
India’s Role and Reaction
Telangana officials stressed that no radicalisation appears to have occurred during Sajid’s time in India. He had no criminal record in the country and left in pursuit of a career in Australia, where he later married a woman of European descent.
Both Indian and Australian authorities are coordinating with their Philippine counterparts as part of an ongoing international probe into the incident.
The incident has reignited discussions around lone-wolf terrorism and international radicalisation networks, as well as immigration loopholes that allow suspects to travel and plan attacks.
