SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — A 24-year-old man, Naveed Akram, is in police custody following a deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach that resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a child. Authorities confirmed that Akram allegedly joined his father, Sajid Akram, 50, in carrying out the attack.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The incident occurred on Sunday, when both Sajid and Naveed Akram reportedly opened fire on attendees of the Hanukkah event.
Police Response and Casualties
Police killed Sajid Akram at the scene. Naveed Akram was wounded during the operation and taken into custody after receiving medical treatment at a hospital. The 15 victims included a 10-year-old child.
Last Contact: A Casual Phone Call
Verena, the mother of Naveed Akram, told The Sydney Morning Herald that her son called her just hours before the massacre. At the time, Naveed was reportedly on a weekend trip to Jervis Bay with his father.
She recalled the conversation:
“He rings me up [on Sunday] and said, ‘Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We’re going … to eat now, and then this morning, and we’re going to stay home now because it’s very hot.'”
This casual conversation stands in stark contrast to the violence that followed hours later.
🇦🇺 Albanese Condemns “Antisemitic Terrorism”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a strong condemnation of the violence.
“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores,” Prime Minister Albanese stated, confirming the official view that the attack was driven by hate.
