Bondi attack suspects ‘inspired by Islamic State’, authorities say
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Australian authorities believe the father and son accused of carrying out the deadly Bondi attack were inspired by Islamic State, as investigators piece together their movements and alleged extremist links. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said evidence suggested the shooting was motivated by IS ideology, while police confirmed inquiries into why the pair travelled to the Philippines shortly before the attack.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, visited the Philippines in November, travelling to Davao in the country’s south, a region long associated with Islamist militant groups. Their reasons for the trip and activities while there remain under investigation. Authorities also allege that improvised explosive devices and two homemade IS flags were found in a car linked to Naveed near the scene of the Hanukkah festival shooting, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured.
Naveed was arrested at the scene with critical injuries, while his father was shot dead by police. Investigators clarified that Sajid only obtained a firearms licence in 2023, despite earlier applications dating back to 2015. This was granted even though Naveed had come under ASIO scrutiny in 2019 over alleged extremist associations, including reported links to an Islamic State cell. At the time, authorities assessed there was no imminent threat.
Officials are now examining whether the Philippines trip, the firearms licence, Sajid’s gun ownership and Naveed’s past extremist contacts should have raised stronger alarms when viewed collectively. While experts caution that training with terrorist groups in the Philippines is difficult for foreigners, they acknowledge the country’s south remains a hub for IS-linked organisations such as Abu Sayyaf.
The case has intensified debate over intelligence sharing and firearms laws, with the government signalling reforms aimed at tightening gun ownership and strengthening threat assessments to prevent future attacks.
