Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old individual with origins in Lahore, Pakistan, has been identified as a central figure in the investigation surrounding the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Authorities have officially classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
Information from social media and law enforcement indicates that Akram was a student at Sydney’s al-Murad Institute. Images circulating online reportedly show him wearing a Pakistan cricket jersey, possibly from an official identification photo. Reports also suggest he pursued studies at educational institutions in both Australia and Pakistan prior to the incident.
Authorities have confirmed Akram as one of the two gunmen responsible for the Bondi Beach attack. The shooting resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and left many others injured. Police stated that one attacker was neutralized at the scene, while the second succumbed to critical injuries at a hospital.
In connection with the ongoing investigation, police conducted a raid on Akram’s Sydney residence in the Bonnyrigg suburb on Sunday evening. The New South Wales Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyon, officially declared the event a terrorist attack. The gunmen opened fire around 6:30 p.m. local time, during a “Chanukah by the Sea” event attended by hundreds on Bondi Beach.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of extreme chaos as continuous gunfire erupted on the crowded beach, filled with families and tourists. People screamed and desperately sought cover. The attack tragically occurred on the opening night of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival.