Australian authorities say evidence suggests the mass shooting at Bondi Beach that left at least 15 people dead may have been inspired by the Islamic State group. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said investigators found items indicating links to ISIS, including Islamic State flags in a vehicle linked to the alleged attackers.
The shooting happened on Sunday during a Hanukkah event, when two alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24 year old son, Naveed Akram, opened fire on crowds near the beach. Officials have described the attack as an anti semitic terrorist incident and are examining the suspects’ activities in the weeks and months leading up to the killings.
Albanese told reporters that the discovery of ISIS flags formed part of the emerging evidence about the motive. He condemned what he called a “radical perversion of Islam,” saying extremist ideology remains a global security threat.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that the seized vehicle, registered to the younger suspect, contained improvised explosive devices as well as ISIS flags. He said investigators are still working to fully establish the motive behind the attack and to understand whether anyone else was involved.
Police are also probing a recent trip the two men took to the Philippines in November. Lanyon said detectives are looking into why they went there, what they did and who they may have met during the visit.
One of the alleged gunmen was shot dead by police at the scene, while the other, Sajid Akram, was critically injured. Authorities said he has now woken from a coma but has not yet been formally questioned.
A spokesperson for NSW Health said 22 injured people remain in hospital, with six in critical condition. Twelve of the 15 people killed have so far been identified, including a young French born soccer player, a Holocaust survivor and a 10 year old girl.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns defended the police response amid questions about how quickly officers confronted the gunmen. He praised responding officers for their bravery, saying they ran towards danger and engaged the attackers on a footbridge using handguns, even though the gunmen had long range rifles.
Minns noted that police shot and killed one attacker and wounded the other, actions he said likely saved many lives. Two officers are themselves in critical care after being shot during the confrontation. Minns rejected any suggestion that police failed in their duty, insisting such claims are not supported by the facts.
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