A father and son have been named by police as the suspected gunmen behind a horrific terror attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, which left at least 15 people dead and 38 injured.
The Attack: Ten Minutes of Chaos
The atrocity unfolded on Sunday evening, the 15th of December 2025, as more than 1,000 people gathered on the famous Sydney beach to mark the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. At approximately 6:47pm, two attackers opened fire on the crowd from a footbridge leading over a car park to the sand.
The shooting lasted for roughly ten minutes, plunging the festive scene into what eyewitnesses described as utter panic and chaos. Footage from the scene indicates the younger gunman used a rifle, while the older assailant was armed with a semi-automatic shotgun.
The victims, whose ages ranged from 10 to 87 years old, included a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. Police eventually confronted and neutralised the attackers on the bridge, shooting them 75 seconds apart.
Identities and Background of the Suspects
New South Wales Police have identified the alleged perpetrators as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.
Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, later becoming a permanent resident. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed he had held a gun licence for around a decade and was a member of a gun club. Officers searching properties linked to the suspects found the father had six firearms licenced to him, which they believe match the weapons recovered at the scene.
His son, Naveed, is an Australian-born citizen. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the younger suspect first came to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in October 2019. He was investigated for six months over associations with two individuals later jailed for terrorism offences, but authorities assessed he posed no ongoing threat and he was not placed on a watchlist. Neither suspect was on the ASIO radar following the 7 October Hamas attacks.
Heroic Intervention and Explosive Discovery
Amid the terror, a moment of bravery emerged. Footage shows 43-year-old fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, believed to be Naveed Akram. Mr Ahmed was shot twice during the incident and required surgery. The disarmed attacker then fled towards his father's location.
In a chilling update, Prime Minister Albanese stated that a range of IEDs and explosive devices were found in the suspects' car, which they apparently intended to use to cause further devastation.
The father, Sajid Akram, was killed at the scene by police. His son was shot and wounded, and is currently in a coma in hospital under police guard. Commissioner Lanyon said he "may well" face criminal charges.
Official Response and Motive
NSW Police have formally designated the massacre a terrorist incident. While a specific ideology has not been publicly detailed, leaders were unequivocal in condemning the antisemitic nature of the attack.
Prime Minister Albanese called it an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation. NSW Premier Chris Minns stated, "This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy... has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack."
A significant counter-terrorism investigation is now underway, with authorities vowing to leave no stone unturned.
