Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, which resulted in 16 fatalities, was motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS). The two individuals responsible, identified as a father-son pair, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, targeted a Jewish festival on Sunday evening.
Albanese confirmed that the attackers were radicalized and driven by a dangerous ideology of hate. He revealed that Naveed Akram had previously come to the attention of Australian security agencies in 2019 due to his associations, though he was not deemed a threat at the time. Investigations are ongoing to determine if this was a lone wolf incident or if the attackers had broader connections to a terror network.
The recovery of an ISIS flag from the suspects’ vehicle further supports the assertion of ideological motivation. Authorities have also noted that the father-son duo originated from Pakistan, with the father possessing multiple firearms licenses. The incident has deeply shocked Australia, especially the Jewish community, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the motives and potential affiliations behind this act of mass violence.
