One of the two men suspected in the Bondi Beach mass shooting was originally from southern India but had limited contact with his family there, according to police sources. Sajid Akram, 50, who died at the scene, was originally from Hyderabad, India.
Bondi Beach Shooting: Suspect’s Background
Sajid Akram traveled to India six times since moving to Australia in 1998, primarily for family-related matters, including property and visits to his elderly parents. His family reportedly had no knowledge of any radical mindset or activities.
Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed, are suspected of killing 15 people and injuring dozens more during an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Sunday.
Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana state in southern India, where Akram’s family resides. Officials stated that Akram did not return to India even for his father’s funeral.
The factors leading to the radicalization of Sajid Akram and his son appear to have no connection to India or any local influence in Telangana. Akram held an Indian passport, while his children, born in Australia, are Australian citizens.
Travel to the Philippines
Police are investigating a trip the father and son took to the Philippines in the weeks before the attack. They arrived on November 1 and departed on November 28, confirmed by the country’s immigration bureau.
Sajid Akram used his Indian passport for travel, while Naveed Akram used Australian identification. Security sources suggest the pair may have received “military-style training” during their time in the Philippines, though officials have not confirmed these reports.
Philippines Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro and Australian counterpart Penny Wong have agreed to share information related to the investigation.
Previous Investigation
Naveed Akram was previously investigated for ties to a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell, according to reports. IS is an extremist Islamist militant group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks globally.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Naveed Akram first came to the attention of authorities in 2019 due to associations with others. However, an assessment at the time found no indication of an ongoing threat or potential for violence.
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