Hyderabad-Origin Gunman Identified in Australia’s Deadliest Shooting in Decades
Indian police on Tuesday said the gunman killed in Australia’s Bondi beach shooting, identified as Sajid Akram, was originally from Hyderabad in southern India but had limited contact with his family in India. The attack on Sunday, Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, left 16 people dead, including Akram, 50, who was shot by police. Authorities are investigating the incident as a suspected act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community.
Police said Akram’s 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, believed to be an accomplice, was critically injured and remains in hospital after being shot. Australian investigators said the father and son had travelled to the Philippines last month, with Sajid Akram holding an Indian passport and his son an Australian one. Officials said the purpose of the trip is under investigation and it is not yet clear whether they had links to any terrorist group or received training abroad.
In a statement, Telangana state police said the family had no knowledge of Sajid Akram’s alleged radical mindset or activities. They added that the factors leading to the radicalisation of the two men appeared to have no connection with India or local influences in Telangana. Sajid Akram had migrated to Australia in 1998 and had visited India six times for family reasons, with no adverse record prior to leaving the country.
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