One of the two men suspected of carrying out a mass shooting at Bondi Beach was originally from southern India but had limited contact with his family there, police sources have said. Sajid Akram, who died at the scene in Sydney on Sunday, was originally from the city of Hyderabad, a police official from the Indian state of Telangana stated. He had travelled to India just six times since moving to Australia in 1998, and his family expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities. Sajid, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed are suspected of killing 15 people and injuring dozens more at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Sunday.
Hyderabad, where Sajid Akram's family is based, is the capital of Telangana state in southern India. The Telangana police official mentioned that Sajid had visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents. It is noted that he did not travel to India even during significant family events. The factors that led to the radicalization of Sajid Akram and his son appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.
Sajid Akram, who held an Indian passport, completed a degree before migrating to Australia for employment and later married a woman of European descent. Police investigations are now looking into the father and son's travels to the Philippines prior to the attack, where they reportedly received military-style training. While Naveed Akram was previously investigated concerning links to a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell, he was assessed as not posing an ongoing threat at that time.
As investigations continue, the Australian Prime Minister mentioned that Naveed first came to authorities' attention in 2019 and stressed the importance of maintaining close communication with international counterparts regarding the unfolding investigation into the shooting.
Hyderabad, where Sajid Akram's family is based, is the capital of Telangana state in southern India. The Telangana police official mentioned that Sajid had visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents. It is noted that he did not travel to India even during significant family events. The factors that led to the radicalization of Sajid Akram and his son appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.
Sajid Akram, who held an Indian passport, completed a degree before migrating to Australia for employment and later married a woman of European descent. Police investigations are now looking into the father and son's travels to the Philippines prior to the attack, where they reportedly received military-style training. While Naveed Akram was previously investigated concerning links to a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell, he was assessed as not posing an ongoing threat at that time.
As investigations continue, the Australian Prime Minister mentioned that Naveed first came to authorities' attention in 2019 and stressed the importance of maintaining close communication with international counterparts regarding the unfolding investigation into the shooting.
