By john zurcher|america news world
Sydney, Australia – A happy celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at famous Bondi Beach turned into horror on Sunday evening. Two gunmen, a father and his son, opened fire on a large crowd, killing 15 people and injuring more than 40 others. Police have called this a terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish community.
The attackers were identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene. Naveed was badly hurt and is now in hospital under heavy police guard. He is expected to face serious charges soon.
Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad in southern India. He moved to Australia in 1998 to find work after finishing his studies. He held an Indian passport and visited India only six times since leaving, mostly for family reasons like property issues or seeing his parents. Indian police said his family in Hyderabad had no idea about any extreme views he might have had. They added that Sajid had no criminal record in India and his radical ideas had no link to anything in the country.
Sajid married a woman of European background in Australia. Their children, including Naveed, were born there and are Australian citizens. The family lived in western Sydney. Sajid worked as a fruit seller and had a legal gun license for hunting. He owned six firearms, which police believe were used in the attack.
Naveed worked as a bricklayer but lost his job a few months ago. Australian security agencies knew about him in 2019 because he was linked to people connected to the Islamic State (IS) group, a dangerous extremist organization. But at that time, officials decided he was not a direct threat.
Just weeks before the attack, the father and son traveled to the Philippines from November 1 to 28. Sajid used his Indian passport, and Naveed used his Australian one. Police are checking if they went there for military-style training. Reports say IS flags and homemade bombs were found in their car at Bondi Beach.
The attack happened around 6:45 pm on December 14, the first night of Hanukkah. Over 1,000 people, many from the Jewish community, were at “Chanukah by the Sea” event in a park near the beach. Families were enjoying music, food, and lights when the shooting started.
Videos show the two men in black clothes firing from a small bridge over the park. People ran in panic, screaming for safety. One brave man, Ahmed al-Ahmed, tackled Sajid and took his gun away, saving many lives. A couple, Boris and Sofia Gurman, also tried to stop one attacker but were killed.
Among the 15 victims were a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, two rabbis including Eli Schlanger who helped organize the event, a Holocaust survivor, and others from different backgrounds. One French citizen was also killed. Many victims were trying to protect others or just enjoying the festival.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it an “act of pure evil” and antisemitism. He promised stronger gun laws and more action against hate. Leaders from around the world, including India, condemned the attack.
On Monday and Tuesday, people left flowers and candles at Bondi Beach to remember the victims. Blood donations broke records as Australians showed support. The Jewish community is in shock, but many say they will stay strong.
Police are still investigating why this happened and if anything could have stopped it. They found more weapons and bombs at the scene. This is Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.
The attack has raised questions about gun rules, even though Australia has strict laws after a big shooting in 1996. It also highlights growing worries about antisemitism and extremism.
Bondi Beach, loved by tourists worldwide for its sun and waves, now has a dark memory. But people hope love and unity will heal the pain.
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**Sources: BBC News, ABC News Australia, CNN, The Guardian, Reuters, and other reports.**
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