Police have identified a father and son of Pakistani origin as the suspects involved in the deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Australia that claimed 16 lives. Preliminary information indicates that the father legally owned several licensed firearms, which were used during the incident.
The suspects were identified as Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father. Police confirmed that the two were responsible for the shooting that left 16 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, during what has been described as the Bondi Beach massacre.
The death toll from the terrorist attack has risen to 16, with about 40 others injured, according to police. Fourteen victims died at the scene, while 42 people were taken to hospital. A 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man later died from their injuries in hospital. Police said the ages of the deceased range from 10 to 87, and victims are yet to be formally identified.
Authorities said the Chanukah by the Sea event was the target of the attack. The two gunmen reportedly opened fire on a group of families at about 6.47pm on Sunday evening.
Naveed Akram was taken to hospital under police guard and remains in a critical but stable condition. His 50-year-old father was shot dead by police and died at the scene.
The NSW Police Commissioner confirmed that the father held a valid gun licence and was in possession of six firearms. Police seized six firearms from the crime scene and from another location in Campsie, which was searched on Sunday night. The commissioner further confirmed that the 50-year-old had held the gun licence for two years.
Five of the injured victims remain in critical condition, while others are in serious and stable conditions. A constable and a probationary constable also sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and are both reported to be in serious but stable condition.
Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 6.47pm, with some forced to transport injured victims while the situation remained active. NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged their efforts at a press conference on Monday morning, saying, “Thank you to the paramedics who in some cases under fire transported the injured to NSW hospitals.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the NSW Premier both condemned the attack and stressed that there is no place for antisemitism in New South Wales or Australia. Describing the incident, Mr Albanese said, “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil and act of antisemitism.”
He added that the iconic beach would be “forever tarnished” by the attack. “This was an attack deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Hannukah,” he said.
Police also disclosed that a vehicle believed to contain “several improvised explosive devices” was found on Campbell Parade shortly after the shooting. The incident was formally declared a terrorist attack at about 9.36pm.
