Bondi beach attack: Telangana police confirm shooter Sajid Akram belonged to Hyderabad, moved Australia 27 yrs ago

PTC Web Desk: Indian authorities have confirmed that Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old man involved in the deadly shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach, was originally from Hyderabad and had migrated to Australia nearly three decades ago. The Telangana police said on Tuesday that Akram left India around 27 years ago and had only minimal contact with his family after settling abroad.

The attack took place during a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach on Sunday, when Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, allegedly opened fire using rifles, killing 15 persons on the spot. Sajid was later killed during a confrontation with the Australian police, taking the death toll to 16. Naveed sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalised under police guard.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident, calling it a targeted assault against Jewish Australians and describing it as an act of antisemitism and terrorism that has shaken the nation.

According to the Telangana police, preliminary findings suggest that the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son does not appear to be linked to India or influenced by any local factors in Telangana. Officials added that Indian police records show no criminal or extremist history associated with Sajid before he left the country.

Indian authorities have said they are prepared to cooperate fully with Australian federal agencies.

Earlier, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Sajid Akram, an Indian national and Australian resident, had travelled to the Philippines with his son in November. Officials stated that both entered the country from Sydney, listed Davao as their destination and returned to Australia later that month.

The Bondi Beach shooting is being described as one of the deadliest terror-related incidents in Australia in recent years.