Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Hyderabad Link Emerges, Telangana Police Rule Out India Angle

One of the two men behind the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday—an attack that killed 15 people during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration—was originally from Hyderabad and continues to hold an Indian passport, even though he migrated to Australia nearly three decades ago.

The suspect, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police during the attack. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, who authorities say acted alongside him, survived and is being treated in hospital under police guard. Australian investigators have described the attack as a terrorist act inspired by the so-called Islamic State group.

Who Is Sajid Akram

The Telangana Director General of Police said Sajid Akram was a native of Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in November 1998, initially on a student visa. He had completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad before leaving India in search of employment.

Akram lived in Australia for nearly 27 years and had minimal contact with his family in Hyderabad during this period. Telangana Police officials emphasised that there was no adverse record against him during his stay in India and no evidence of radicalisation or extremist influence linked to Telangana or India.

Police said Akram had visited India only six times since migrating and last travelled to Hyderabad in 2022. Despite living in Australia for decades, he continued to hold an Indian passport, while his children—a son and a daughter—were born in Australia and are Australian citizens.

Family Ties Severed Years Ago

According to investigators and family sources cited by media outlets, Akram’s relationship with his extended family in Hyderabad had broken down years ago due to personal and family disputes. Relatives are understood to have severed ties with him long before the attack.

Police said Akram did not attend the funeral of his father when he died, nor did he remain in contact with close family members in later years. Telangana Police reiterated that there was no operational, ideological, or logistical link between Akram’s family in India and the attack.

Also Read: Tragedy at Bondi Beach: Australia Grapples With Its Deadliest Antisemitic Attack in Decades

Life in Australia

After settling in Australia, Akram married Venera Grosso, a woman of European origin. The couple had two children—Naveed and a daughter—and lived permanently in Australia. Sajid remained an Indian passport holder, while both children acquired Australian citizenship by birth.

The Bondi Beach Attack

The mass shooting unfolded on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most prominent public spaces. Fifteen people were killed when gunfire erupted among families and community members gathered for the event, including children and elderly victims.

On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett described the incident as “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.”

“The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or vulnerability of their victims,” Barrett said. “It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally.”

Authorities confirmed that the attackers were a father-son duo aged 50 and 24. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram sustained gunshot injuries and remains hospitalised under police custody.

Explosives, Vehicle Seizure and ISIS Links

A vehicle used by the attackers, registered in Naveed Akram’s name, was seized by police. Investigators said they recovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to the so-called Islamic State group from inside the vehicle.

Philippines Trip Under Probe

Australian authorities are also investigating a trip undertaken by the two suspects to the Philippines in the month preceding the attack.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son entered the country on November 1 and departed on November 28. Sajid travelled on an Indian passport, while Naveed used an Australian passport, immigration officials said.

The pair declared Davao city as their destination and booked return flights to Sydney. Davao is located on the island of Mindanao, a region that has historically seen activity by Islamist groups such as Abu Sayyaf, which in the past pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

However, the Philippine military said it could not immediately confirm claims that the two men received any form of militant or military-style training during their stay. Philippine security officials added that militant networks in the region have been significantly weakened in recent years and that there is no current evidence of foreign fighters operating there.

Australian officials said the purpose of the Philippines trip and the suspects’ movements during that period remain under active investigation.