Australian authorities have identified the two gunmen behind the deadly Bondi Beach shooting as a father and son, bringing clarity to one of the country’s most devastating acts of violence in three decades.
New South Wales Police confirmed on Monday that the attack was carried out by 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram. The incident unfolded on Sunday at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where crowds had gathered for a public event, leaving 16 people dead.
At a morning press briefing, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that investigators were now confident only two individuals were involved. Earlier concerns about a possible third attacker were formally dismissed following extensive checks and forensic review.
What police have confirmed so far
According to Commissioner Lanyon, both attackers were present at the scene when police intervened. The younger suspect, Naveed Akram, was taken into custody and transported to hospital, where he remains under armed police guard.
While officials stopped short of publicly naming him, law enforcement sources confirmed his identity to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other Australian outlets. Naveed is reported to be in a critical but stable condition.
His father, Sajid Akram, was shot by police during the confrontation and died at the scene.
Authorities stressed that no other suspects are being sought and that the threat to the wider public has been neutralised.
Identities and background
Officials have not formally disclosed the nationality of either man. However, multiple international media reports have stated that the pair were of Pakistani descent.
CBS News, citing unnamed US intelligence officials, reported that Naveed Akram was a Pakistani national. The broadcaster also said it had reviewed his New South Wales driver’s licence, which confirmed his identity. Australian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied these claims publicly.
Local media, including ABC News, reported that Sajid Akram was a fruit shop owner in Sydney. No prior criminal history has been officially released for either individual.
Deception before the attack
Investigators revealed that the father and son had told family members they were travelling south for a weekend fishing trip to Jervis Bay. Instead, police say, they carried out the planned attack at Bondi Beach.
This revelation has raised further questions for counter-terrorism teams examining the timeline and level of premeditation involved.
Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades
The Bondi Beach shooting is now being described as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in 30 years.
The attack occurred during a public gathering at the iconic Sydney beach, where locals and tourists had assembled for a “Hanukkah by the Sea” festival. The location and timing amplified the scale of the tragedy.
Initial reports on Sunday placed the death toll at 12, including one of the attackers. On Monday, authorities confirmed that the number of victims had risen to 16.
Among those killed were a 10-year-old child and an 87-year-old man, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Ongoing investigation
While police have ruled out additional attackers, the investigation remains active. Authorities are examining how the firearms were obtained, whether warning signs were missed, and if any extremist or personal motives played a role.
Commissioner Lanyon said further details would be released once next-of-kin notifications were completed and forensic assessments concluded.
For now, Australia is left grappling with the shock of an attack that has reopened national conversations around public safety, policing response, and gun violence.
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