A father and son have been identified as the alleged gunmen behind the tragic mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, used Indian passport to travel abroad from Australia. According to reports, the duo used fake Indian document to travel to Philippines last month.
Australian police, as quoted by native media, say the two suspects — 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, who are believed to be natives of Pakistan— took a trip to Manila through Davao.
As per a BBC report, Philippine authorities found links of the father’s travel to Manila using an Indian passport from November 1 to November 28, while his son was using an Australian passport. The alleged gunmen were said to have visited a “military-style training” station.
The attackers rained bullets at a crowd gathered for the “Chanukah by the Sea” event near the beachfront claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left dozens injured during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025. It also triggered widespread panic and chaos among locals and visitors.
Sajid was killed by responding officers at the scene, while Naveed was wounded and taken to hospital under police guard. Authorities have arrested no other suspects and confirmed that the pair acted alone.
During investigation, detectives recovered multiple firearms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the attack site, and later found two Islamic State (ISIS) flags in their vehicle, prompting officials to treat the incident as a terrorist-inspired act rather than random violence, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said in a press conference.
A report by CNN World stated that the alleged attackers were motivated by ISIS-style ideology to carry out the mass shooting.
According to investigating authorities, the father — a licensed gun owner for over a decade with six registered firearms — legally possessed the weapons used in the attack. Police say there is no current evidence linking the duo to a wider extremist cell, but extremist ideology appears to have played a role in motivating the violence.
The Australian PM Anthony Albanese has sought tougher gun laws following the attack. In a media address he said that the attack was “deliberately targeted at the Jewish Community.” Further, he also proposed reforms be made in gun licensing. “People’s circumstances can change. People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity,” Albanese said, as quoted by The Guardian.
The attack occurred during one of Sydney’s busiest holiday periods and specifically targeted a Jewish festival event, adding to concerns about rising antisemitic violence and prompting national and international condemnation. Head of Vatican Church, Pope Leo XIV , also condemned the attack. As reported by Vatican News, he sent a telegram to the archbishop of Sydney to express his grief. ‘“Enough with these forms of antisemitic violence,” he said. “We must eliminate hatred from our hearts,” it read.
This incident — one of the deadliest shootings in Australia in decades — has shocked the nation and sparked widespread debate over public safety, counter-terrorism measures and community tensions following an event meant to celebrate peace and unity.
If you’d like, I can also provide a timeline of the Bondi Beach attack, victim updates, or summary of official responses from Australia and global leaders.
