MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A shocking incident unfolded in Sydney, where Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old man, is accused of orchestrating a deadly attack that resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals at Bondi Beach. During a video court appearance on Monday from a hospital in Sydney, police documents revealed that Akram, alongside his father Sajid Akram, engaged in “firearms training” in a New South Wales area outside of Sydney. The documents pointed to a recorded video where the pair purportedly expressed their "justification" for the heinous act.
According to the police statement, the father-son duo hurled four improvised explosive devices towards a gathering attending a Jewish event at Bondi Beach on December 14, but thankfully, the devices did not detonate. The police statement came to light following Naveed Akram’s court appearance, which underscored the gravity of the situation.
Tragically, during the chaotic scene, New South Wales police shot and killed Sajid Akram, 50, while also injuring Naveed. This antisemitic assault coincided with the celebration of Hanukkah and is reported to be Australia's worst mass shooting since a lone gunman killed 35 people in Tasmania in 1996. The public outrage following the event has prompted significant legislative responses.
In the wake of the tragedy, the New South Wales government introduced draft laws on Monday, described by Premier Chris Minns as potentially the strictest firearm regulations in Australia. Key among these proposed measures is the stipulation that Australian citizenship would be a prerequisite for obtaining a firearms license. This change would have barred Sajid Akram, who was an Indian citizen and held an Australian permanent resident visa, from legally obtaining firearms. At the time of the incident, he owned six rifles and shotguns; under the proposed new regulations, recreational shooters would be limited to a maximum of four firearms.
Naveed Akram was charged last week with 59 offenses, which include 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder concerning the survivors who were wounded during the attack. He also faces charges related to committing a terrorist act. The police assertion, as reported by the ABC, indicates that a video was found wherein the father and son articulated “political and religious views,” seemingly summarizing their rationale for the horrific Bondi terrorist attack.
The ramifications of this incident extend far beyond legal consequences, affecting the social and political landscape in Australia. The Bondi Beach shooting has, regrettably, highlighted the ongoing issues surrounding gun control, public safety, and the rising tide of antisemitism in the country.
