In brief
The investigation surrounding the recent mass shooting at Bondi Beach has uncovered that one of the suspects, Sajid Akram, has roots in India. Police have shared that Akram, who had limited contact with his family, traveled to the Philippines shortly before the attack, raising questions about potential radicalization influences. Security agencies are probing his past and previous associations, particularly relating to terrorist connections in Sydney.
One of the two men suspected of carrying out a mass shooting at Bondi Beach was originally from southern India but had limited contact with his family there, police sources have said. Sajid Akram, who died at the scene in Sydney on Sunday, was originally from the city of Hyderabad, a police official from the Indian state of Telangana stated. He had traveled to India just six times since moving to Australia in 1998, and his family expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities. Sajid, 50, 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. Hyderabad, where Sajid Akram's family resides, is the capital of the Telangana state in southern India. According to Telangana police, Sajid visited India primarily for family-related reasons. Furthermore, police confirmed he had no criminal record in India, possessing a degree and moving to Australia in search of employment. The circumstances surrounding his radicalization and that of his son appear disconnected from any local influences in Telangana. Sajid was an Indian passport holder, while his children are Australian citizens. The investigation continues into their brief travel to the Philippines, where the pair reportedly received military-style training. Authorities are also exploring Naveed's earlier connections to a terrorism cell based in Sydney, which may shed light on the motivations behind the attack. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the situation, noting Naveed's previous association with others deemed of concern, however, a prior assessment indicated no ongoing threat.
