The Australian Citizens who committed Bondi Terror Attack were Muslims, Confirms BBC
The two gun men who carried out a mass terror shooting attack at Bondi Beach were Muslims. The two Islamist fanatics were father- son duo. The father a Muslim originally migrated to Australia from southern Indian city of Hyderabad but had hardly any contacts with his own family there since last 27 years, police sources have confirmed. He had migrated to Australia in 1998 on a student visa in search of employment. He later married a woman of European origin and settled in Australia as a permanent resident, though he still held an Indian passport.
Indian police have confirmed that he maintained limited contact with his family in Hyderabad, visiting the country only six times in the 27 years after he left, primarily for property matters and to visit his elderly parents. His family in India had no knowledge of his radicalization. It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise, said an official.
The official also said Sajid Akram had no criminal record in India. The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.
Sajid Akram was an Indian passport holder, but his children were born in Australia and are Australian citizens, the official added.
Police are currently investigating why the father and son travelled to the Philippines in the weeks leading up to the attack. They arrived on 1 November and left on 28 November, the country’s immigration bureau confirmed to the BBC.
Sajid travelled using an Indian passport, while his son used Australian identification, the authorities said.
Citing security sources, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said that the pair travelled to the island nation to receive “military-style training”, but officials have not been able to confirm those reports.
Philippines foreign affairs minister Maria Theresa Lazaro and her Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, have agreed to “keep each other closely informed” of any developments related to the investigation into the Bondi Beach shooting, according to a text message Lazaro sent to the media.
It is understood that Naveed Akram was previously investigated over ties to a Sydney-based IS terrorism cell, ABC reported.
IS is an extremist Islamist militant group that has claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks across Europe and America, including the 2015 Paris attacks.
The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Naveed Akram first came to the attention of the authorities in 2019 “on the basis of being associated with others”.
However, at the time, an “assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence”.
So it is very clear that his radicalization took place in Australia itself, with Australian Intelligence and the famed 5 Eyes remaining totally unaware.
Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene of the attack, while his son Naveed was injured and is in police custody. Australian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist act inspired by the Islamic State group, having found IS flags in their vehicle.
Sajid and his 24-year-old son Naveed have killed 15 people and injuring dozens more at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Sunday.
