Sydney: As Australia mourns the victims of the deadliest mass shooting the country has witnessed in nearly three decades, new details have emerged about the background of one of the alleged attackers in Sunday’s terror assault at Bondi beach. Indian authorities have said that the family of Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police during the attack, appeared to have no knowledge of any extremist beliefs or radical activities linked to him.
Indian police in the southern state of Telangana confirmed that Akram, 50, hailed from Hyderabad and had completed a degree in commerce before migrating to Australia in November 1998 in search of employment. According to officials, Akram later married a woman of European origin and had two children a son and a daughter. He is reported to have returned to India on six occasions over the years for family-related matters, including property issues and visits to his parents, though he did not travel back when his father passed away.
In an official statement, Telangana police said Akram had no adverse criminal or security record in India prior to leaving the country. His family members reportedly told investigators that they were unaware of any radical mindset or activities and had no information about the circumstances that may have contributed to his alleged radicalisation. Authorities stressed that there was no evidence to suggest that any factors within India or the local environment in Telangana played a role in his transformation.
Australian investigators, meanwhile, revealed that Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, had travelled to the Philippines last month. Officials said Sajid used an Indian passport while Naveed travelled on an Australian passport. The purpose of the trip remains under investigation, and police said it was still unclear whether the visit had any connection to extremist groups or involved training of any kind.
Attention has now shifted to Naveed Akram, 24, the second alleged gunman, who survived the attack after being shot by police. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Naveed regained consciousness on Tuesday after emerging from a coma. Speaking to ABC Radio, Lanyon explained that investigators had initiated custody procedures while he remains in hospital, waiting for the effects of medication to subside and for legal counsel to be arranged. He added that police expected to question him on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that charges against Naveed Akram were likely to be laid within hours, as investigators continue to piece together the events and motives behind the attack.
The shooting, which occurred during a Hanukkah gathering known as “Chanukah by the Sea,” claimed 15 lives and left at least 22 others injured. Authorities are treating the incident as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Of those hospitalised, three remain in critical condition, five are described as critical but stable, while the rest are in stable condition across several Sydney hospitals.
The first funerals for the victims were held on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a series of emotional farewells. Among those laid to rest were Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan. Rabbi Schlanger was associated with Chabad of Bondi, which hosted the event where the attack occurred. His funeral took place at the Chabad centre, located just a kilometre from the beachfront site of the tragedy.
Grief-stricken communities gathered for vigils and memorials along Bondi beach, where heartbreaking tributes highlighted the human cost of the violence. At a candlelight memorial on Tuesday evening, the parents of the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, addressed mourners through tears. Her father, Michael, said they chose her name because it symbolized their new life in Australia after migrating from Ukraine. His wife, Valentyna, said she never imagined losing her child in what they believed was a safe and welcoming country.
Among the victims were 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman; Marika Pogany, 82, a devoted community volunteer who died at her beloved Bondi beach; and three individuals who bravely attempted to stop the attack. Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia Gurman, 61, were shot while trying to disarm one of the assailants, while Reuven Morrison was killed after hurling bricks at Sajid Akram in an effort to halt the violence.
As investigations continue across multiple countries, Australian authorities have vowed to uncover the full network, motives, and planning behind the attack, even as the nation grapples with shock, grief, and renewed questions about extremism and public safety.