Australia is reeling from its deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades after a violent attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach left 16 people dead, including one of the alleged attackers. Police say the assault, which targeted the Jewish community, is being investigated as an act of terrorism inspired by the Islamic State.
Authorities have identified the alleged gunmen as a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son remains in critical condition in the hospital after also being shot. The pair allegedly opened fire on hundreds of people attending the beachside event, triggering panic and a desperate scramble for safety during a roughly 10-minute rampage.
Australian police revealed on Tuesday that both men had travelled to the Philippines last month, and the purpose of the trip is now under investigation. Philippine immigration officials confirmed the two arrived in Manila on November 1, travelled onward to Davao in the country’s south, and departed on November 28—just weeks before the Bondi attack. Sajid Akram travelled on an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian passport. Officials stressed that it has not been established whether the pair had direct links to terrorist groups or received training while abroad.
Islamic State-linked networks are known to operate in parts of the southern Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, though their influence has waned significantly since the 2017 Marawi siege. Still, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said early findings point to an attack inspired by Islamic State ideology. She emphasised that the alleged actions reflected alignment with a terrorist organisation, “not a religion.”
Police also disclosed that a vehicle registered to the younger suspect contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags associated with ISIS, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Australia and many other countries. Investigators are continuing to piece together how the younger man became radicalised, with videos circulating online showing him preaching Islam outside suburban Sydney train stations before the attack.
The human toll has been devastating. About 25 survivors remain in hospitals across Sydney, while two police officers injured in the response are in critical but stable condition. Among the victims were a rabbi who was a father of five, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan. Her aunt, Lina Chernykh, said the family was shattered by the loss. “We will be forever heartbroken,” she said.
A temporary memorial of flowers has grown near the Bondi Pavilion, close to the site of the shooting. Although the beach reopened on Tuesday, it remained largely empty under grey skies as residents and visitors stopped to pay their respects. Olivia Robertson, 25, described the attack as deeply unsettling. “This is the country our grandparents came to so we could feel safe,” she said. “Now this has happened right in our backyard.”
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon also visited the memorial, urging the government to take stronger steps to protect Jewish communities. He lamented that Jewish Australians often feel compelled to worship behind security measures such as guards and CCTV, calling the situation heartbreaking and “insane.”
The tragedy has also highlighted acts of courage. Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim father of two, was shot while charging one of the attackers and seizing his rifle. He remains hospitalised but has been hailed as a hero globally, including by U.S. President Donald Trump. A fundraising campaign established in his name has raised more than A$1.9 million, while thousands of Australians have queued nationwide to donate blood.
In the aftermath, Australia’s gun laws are once again under scrutiny. Police confirmed that Sajid Akram was a licensed gun owner with six registered firearms, having obtained his licence in 2023. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said existing gun regulations—introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre—must be re-examined. However, former Prime Minister John Howard, who oversaw those reforms, cautioned against allowing gun law debates to distract from confronting rising antisemitism.
As investigations continue into the attackers’ movements, motivations, and overseas travel, Australia faces difficult questions about extremism, community safety, and the protection of vulnerable groups—while a nation mourns lives lost at what should have been a peaceful celebration by the sea.