Australian authorities have named a father-and-son duo as the suspected perpetrators of a deadly terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and left at least 27 others hospitalised.
The shooting, which occurred on Sunday, has shocked Australia and prompted renewed calls for stricter gun control laws.
Police said the victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, reaffirming the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
The attack was declared a terrorist incident and was reported to have targeted Jewish Australians. Among those killed was a Holocaust survivor who died while shielding his wife from gunfire, according to accounts shared by community organisations.
Australian media identified the suspects as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.
Authorities said the younger man was born in Australia, while his father immigrated to the country in 1998.
Sajid Akram was killed at the scene during an exchange of gunfire with police, while Naveed Akram survived and remains in hospital under police guard.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed Akram had previously come to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2019.
“The assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence,” Albanese said, noting that counter-terrorism agencies must make difficult decisions with limited resources.
Levi West, a terrorism and counter-terrorism expert, explained that intelligence agencies face challenges distinguishing between individuals who hold extreme views and those who are likely to act violently.
“There’s a significant difference, between people who have been radicalized to use the language that we would usually use to refer to people who’ve adopted extremist positions, and people who are actually going to follow through,” he said.
The tragedy has also highlighted acts of extraordinary bravery. Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, was identified as the bystander who wrestled a gun from one of the attackers.
He was later pictured recovering in hospital from gunshot wounds. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns praised him as a real-life hero whose incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.
Another man, identified only as “AB” by his lawyer, was also credited with confronting one of the gunmen.
According to lawyer Alison Battisson, AB, a Middle Eastern refugee without permanent legal status, ran towards the shooting, took cover with a detective, and kicked away the attacker’s gun after the shooter was struck by police fire.
“The government won’t give him a permanent visa. He has no right to stay here, yet he still ran forward to assist the Australian community,” Battisson said.
The international impact of the attack was reaffirmed by confirmation that one of the victims was a Slovak citizen, Marika Pogany.
Slovakia’s President Peter Pellegrini said it was terrifying to see how far sick, faceless hatred toward strangers can go, offering condolences to her family.
Pogany was described by the Slovak Jewish Association as active, smiley and humane, and a close friend of former Slovak President Zuzana Caputova.
Two police officers injured in the shooting remain in a serious but stable condition, New South Wales Police said.
Their families thanked first responders for their courage and asked for privacy as their loved ones focus on recovery.
As investigations continue, Albanese said stricter gun laws, including tighter licensing rules, would be placed before Cabinet.
The attack has reignited debate over public safety, extremism, and the difficult balance faced by security agencies tasked with preventing such acts of violence.
