Pakistani-origin father and son behind deadly shooting at Sydney beach during Jewish festival

Australia reels after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach left 15 dead during a Hanukkah event. Police identify the attackers as a father and son

PGurus Newsdesk

December 15, 2025

Pakistani-origin father-son duo behind antisemitic shooting at Bondi Beach

Father shot dead by police, son hospitalised

Australian police on Monday said that the two gunmen responsible for a deadly shooting at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were a father and son, in what has become the deadliest mass shooting in the country in nearly three decades.

At least 15 people were killed when the attackers opened fire during “Chanukah by the Sea,” an event marking the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The incident has sent shockwaves across Australia, a country known for its strict gun control laws and low rates of gun violence.

Police identified the deceased gunman as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by officers at the scene. The second attacker, his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, was wounded and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

US intelligence officials briefed on the investigation told CBS News that the attackers were likely of Pakistani origin. The son is an Australian-born citizen, while the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, later transitioning to partner and resident return visas, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

Images of Sajid Akram’s New South Wales driver’s licence have circulated widely on social media, drawing further scrutiny amid the ongoing investigation.

Attack unfolded at crowded beach event

The violence erupted around 6:45 pm as thousands gathered at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic locations. Around 1,000 people were attending the Hanukkah event, held in a small park adjacent to the beach.

Witnesses said the shooting lasted about 10 minutes, triggering panic as beachgoers fled into nearby streets. Video footage showed people running from the water as gunshots rang out, while separate clips appeared to show two men in black shirts firing long guns from a footbridge leading to the beach.

Police have not officially confirmed the weapons used, but videos from the scene suggest the attackers were armed with what appeared to be a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.

In one widely broadcast clip, a civilian was seen tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns hailed the man, identified as local fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed, as a “genuine hero.” A fundraising campaign for him raised over A$200,000 by Monday morning.

Victims include children and elderly

The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years, Minns said. At least 42 others were hospitalised, several in critical condition.

The Orthodox Jewish group Chabad confirmed that one of those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the event’s organisers.

Police said one of the attackers was previously known to security agencies, but Commissioner Lanyon stressed there had been no specific intelligence indicating a planned attack.

Authorities conducted raids at the suspects’ residence in Bonnyrigg, about 36 km west of Sydney’s central business district, as the investigation widened.

Leaders condemn ‘antisemitic terror attack’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach on Monday, laying flowers near the site as mourners lit candles and placed Australian and Israeli flags.

Calling the shooting a “dark moment for our nation,” Albanese described the attack as antisemitic terrorism and vowed to stamp out hate.

“What we saw was an act of pure evil — an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores,” he said.

World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

The shooting is being described as Australia’s worst antisemitic attack in decades, amid a rise in antisemitic incidents since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.

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