Australian police say the deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach was inspired by the Islamic State group, marking one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country in recent years.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said Tuesday there were “early indications” that the two suspects, a father and son, were motivated by ISIS ideology. Speaking at a press conference, Barrett stressed that the attack should not be associated with Islam as a religion.
“These are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organization, not a religion,” she said.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens more injured when gunfire erupted during the Jewish holiday event on Sunday. Authorities said one suspect, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police at the scene. His son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was wounded and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators are examining the suspects’ recent travel to the Philippines, where they had visited last month. The trip is under scrutiny due to the presence of militant groups in the southern Philippines, including Abu Sayyaf, which has previously hosted foreign extremists linked to global terrorist networks.
Police said a truck found near the shooting site was registered to Naveed Akram and contained improvised explosive devices as well as two homemade ISIS flags. Authorities are continuing forensic and intelligence analysis to determine the full extent of the suspects’ planning and possible overseas connections.
Amid the violence, one victim of the attack has been widely praised for his bravery. Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two, was injured after charging at one of the attackers and wrestling away a rifle. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump both publicly commended his actions.
“We are a brave country,” Albanese said after visiting al Ahmed in hospital. “Ahmed al Ahmed represents the best of our country. We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite. We will embrace each other, and we’ll get through this.”
Trump, speaking at a White House Christmas reception, described al Ahmed as “a very, very brave person” who “saved a lot of lives.”
A GoFundMe campaign established to support al Ahmed’s recovery had raised more than $2 million by Tuesday morning, with donations continuing to climb.
The attack has renewed debate in Australia over gun laws, despite the country already having some of the strictest firearms regulations in the world. Albanese announced plans to further limit access to weapons after investigators revealed that Sajid Akram had legally amassed a collection of firearms.
International reaction to the massacre has been swift. In the United States, nine Jewish members of the Senate Democratic Caucus issued a joint statement condemning the attack and warning of rising antisemitism worldwide.
“A disturbing wave of antisemitism around the globe has struck anxiety and fear into the hearts of every Jewish community,” the statement said. “Some have faced harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Others, violence as brutal as what we saw yesterday in Sydney.”
Australian authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, with counterterrorism teams working to determine whether anyone else aided or encouraged the attackers.
