Father Killed, Son in Hospital After Sydney Beach Shooting
Australian police have identified the two alleged gunmen responsible for killing 15 people at a Jewish celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach as a father and son. According to authorities, 50-year-old Sajid Akram died at the scene, while his son, Naveed Akram, was apprehended and remains under police guard in a hospital in critical but stable condition.
Family Background and Visa Status Revealed
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, confirmed details of the family’s immigration history. Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, which was later converted to a partner visa in 2001. He had since held a resident return visa. His son, Naveed, born in 2001, is an Australian citizen.
Mother’s Account: A Fishing Trip and Sudden Unemployment
In interviews with Australian media, Naveed’s mother, Verena, provided a portrait of her son. She stated the pair had told family they were going on a fishing trip to Jervis Bay for the weekend, with her last contact being a phone call from Naveed on Sunday morning.
Verena described her 24-year-old son as an unemployed bricklayer who had been laid off approximately two months prior when his company became insolvent. She said he had friends from his time at Cabramatta High School but was not particularly social and did not appear to spend significant time online.
Questions Over Extremist Links and Family Home Searched
The report indicated Naveed appeared to be tagged in a since-removed 2022 social media post showing he had passed Holy Quran studies at the Al-Murad Institute in Heckenberg. Verena, however, said she was unable to identify her son from a photo from the shooting scene and expressed disbelief that he could be involved in violent or extremist activity, stating plainly, “He doesn’t have a firearm.”
Police were reported to be on the scene at the family’s three-bedroom home in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s west, which was purchased in 2024. The home, where Naveed lived with his parents, a 22-year-old sister, and a 20-year-old brother, was cordoned off from the public. Verena is reportedly a stay-at-home parent caring for her elderly mother nearby.
Community Reaction and Investigation Ongoing
A man pictured with Naveed in a 2022 image, who was not identified in the report, said he had lost contact with him in early 2022. He expressed devastation at images of the victims and said his own family had been forced to leave their home after receiving death threats following the attack.
The investigation into the motive and planning behind the attack continues as authorities piece together the final movements of the father and son.
