Australia Mourns 15 Dead as PM Confirms Extremist Motive in Bondi Attack

Shiva K Dhakal
National Press Corporation(NPC)
United Kingdom— Australia’s prime minister has said two gunmen who carried out a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were driven by extremist ideology, as witnesses described scenes of panic with “bullets flying” during the attack.

Police say the attackers were father and son, identified by local media as Sajid Akram, 50, who died at the scene, and Naveed Akram, 24, who remains in a critical condition in hospital. The shooting on Sunday left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, a retired police officer and a Holocaust survivor.

Authorities say the victims were targeted while attending a Hanukkah event, raising concerns about antisemitic violence. Investigators have confirmed the attackers were not part of a wider terror network, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said they were “clearly motivated by extremist ideology”.

Police sources say the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group, and flags linked to the organisation were later found in their vehicle. Security agencies are continuing to examine the extent of any online radicalisation.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as people fled across the beach seeking cover. The father of Ahmed al Ahmed, a bystander filmed wrestling a gun away from one of the attackers, told the BBC his son acted out of “conscience and humanity”.

Australia’s Jewish community leaders have called for calm while urging authorities to strengthen protections around religious events. The government has said security will be reviewed nationwide, as the country mourns one of its deadliest mass shootings in recent years.