Australian authorities continue their investigation into the Bondi Beach mass shooting that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration, with new details emerging about the perpetrators’ international connections and radicalization background.
Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old attacker who died at the Sydney scene, originated from Hyderabad in India’s Telangana state but maintained minimal contact with his family there. According to Telangana police officials, Akram had visited India only six times since relocating to Australia in 1998, primarily for property matters and parental visits. Notably, he did not return even for his father’s funeral.
The investigation reveals that Akram, who held an Indian passport, had no criminal record in India and had completed a degree before emigrating for employment opportunities. He subsequently married a woman of European origin, and their children, including co-attacker Naveed Akram (24), were born as Australian citizens.
Authorities are particularly focused on the father-son duo’s recent trip to the Philippines from November 1-28. While immigration authorities confirmed their travel using Indian and Australian documentation respectively, security sources suggest the purpose may have involved “military-style training” – though officials haven’t confirmed these reports.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro and Australian counterpart Penny Wong have established direct communication channels to share investigation developments. The collaboration comes amid revelations that Naveed Akram had previously been investigated in 2019 for associations with a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell, though authorities had assessed no imminent threat at that time.
Indian officials emphasize that radicalization factors appear unrelated to Indian influences, with family members expressing no knowledge of either attacker’s extremist mindset. The case continues to develop as international agencies coordinate their investigative efforts.