Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said a father and son were likely motivated by Islamic State ideology when they carried out one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings at Bondi Beach. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, opened fire on Jewish crowds celebrating Hanukkah on the evening of December 14, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.
Authorities believe the attack was intended to instill fear within Australia’s Jewish community, though detailed motivations remain under investigation. Albanese confirmed that the attackers were radicalised by “an ideology of hate,” saying, “It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology.”
Naveed Akram, reportedly an unemployed bricklayer, had been on the radar of Australia’s intelligence agency in 2019, but at the time was not considered an imminent threat. Investigators are examining whether the duo made contact with Islamic extremists during a reported trip to the Philippines in November 2025.
On the day of the attack, Naveed told his mother he was going fishing, while he and his father were in a rental apartment planning the assault. Armed with long-barrelled guns, they fired on the beach for approximately ten minutes before police shot and killed Sajid. Naveed remains in a coma in hospital under police guard. Authorities also found a homemade bomb in a car near the scene, believed to have been planted by the pair.
Victims included a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, and a local rabbi, with 42 others treated for gunshot wounds and related injuries. The shooting has prompted Australian leaders to toughen gun laws, including reviewing regulations that allowed Sajid to legally own six firearms.
The attack has also renewed concerns over antisemitism in Australia. Robert Gregory, head of the Australian Jewish Association, said the government “failed to take adequate actions to protect the Jewish community.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked the attack to Australia’s earlier recognition of Palestinian statehood, which he said fueled antisemitic sentiment.
In response to the tragedy, more than 7,000 Australians donated blood in a single day, setting a national record. A growing memorial near Bondi Beach has drawn hundreds of mourners, including Jewish community members, who lit menorah candles, sang songs, and paid tribute to the victims.
