Police Identify Bondi Beach Gunman as Indian National
One of the two men implicated in a tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach has been identified as Sajid Akram, a 50-year-old originally from Hyderabad, India. Akram, who died at the scene, is suspected alongside his 24-year-old son, Naveed, of killing 15 individuals and injuring many others during a Hanukkah celebration. Despite his Indian roots, police reports indicate that Akram had minimal contact with his family in India and had not traveled there frequently since moving to Australia in 1998.
Background of Sajid Akram
Sajid Akram’s family resides in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state. According to a police official, he returned to India only six times since his migration to Australia, primarily for family-related matters. Notably, he did not visit India even when his father passed away. The official emphasized that the factors contributing to the radicalization of both Sajid and Naveed Akram appear to be unrelated to their Indian heritage or any local influences in Telangana. Furthermore, Sajid had no criminal record in India and had pursued higher education before relocating to Australia for employment opportunities. He later married a woman of European descent, and while he held an Indian passport, his children were born in Australia and are Australian citizens.
Investigation into Recent Travels
Authorities are currently probing the reasons behind the father and son’s trip to the Philippines shortly before the attack. They arrived in the country on November 1 and departed on November 28, as confirmed by the Philippines’ immigration bureau. Sajid used his Indian passport for travel, while Naveed utilized Australian identification. Reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation suggest that the pair may have traveled to the Philippines for “military-style training,” although officials have yet to verify these claims. In light of the investigation, the foreign affairs ministers of the Philippines and Australia have agreed to maintain close communication regarding any developments related to the Bondi Beach shooting.
Naveed Akram’s Background
Naveed Akram has previously been under scrutiny for potential connections to a Sydney-based ISIS terrorism cell. The extremist group has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks globally, including the infamous 2015 Paris attacks. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that Naveed first came to the attention of authorities in 2019 due to associations with others. However, at that time, an assessment concluded that there was no indication of an ongoing threat or likelihood of him engaging in violent activities. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover more details surrounding the motivations and actions of both Sajid and Naveed Akram.
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