5 months ago
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A begetter and lad accused of a wide shooting astatine Australia's Bondi Beach "acted alone" and were not portion of a wider violent cell, constabulary said connected Tuesday (December 30, 2025).
Sajid Akram and his lad Naveed allegedly killed 15 radical successful an ISIS-inspired onslaught targeting a Jewish festival connected December 14.
The brace travelled to the confederate Philippines successful the weeks earlier shooting, fuelling suspicions they whitethorn beryllium linked to extremists successful a portion with a past of Islamist insurgencies.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said truthful acold this did not look to beryllium the case.
"These individuals are alleged to person acted alone," she told reporters.
"There is nary grounds to suggest these alleged offenders were portion of a broader violent cell, oregon were directed by others to transportation retired the attack."
Ms. Barrett said constabulary would proceed to probe wherefore the brace travelled to the metropolis of Davao, wherever CCTV showed they hardly near their fund hotel. "I privation to beryllium clear. I americium not suggesting they were determination for tourism," she said.
Police judge the duo "meticulously planned" the onslaught for months, and person released pictures showing them grooming with shotguns successful the Australian countryside.
They besides recorded a video successful October railing against "Zionists" portion sitting successful beforehand of a emblem of the Islamic State jihadist group, constabulary person said.
Sajid Akram, 50, was changeable and killed by constabulary during the attack.
An Indian national, helium entered Australia connected a visa successful 1998.
Gun crackdown
His 24-year-old lad Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, remains successful custody charged with 15 murders and a litany of different superior offences.
New Year's Eve parties crossed Sydney volition intermission astatine 11 p.m. connected Wednesday (December 31) for a infinitesimal of soundlessness successful representation of the victims.
Crowds volition beryllium watched implicit by squads of constabulary carrying high-powered firearms, New South Wales authorities premier Chris Minns said connected Tuesday.
"That is simply a wide and deliberate connection from the constabulary that information is the fig 1 priority," helium told reporters.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a nationwide crackdown connected weapon ownership and hatred code successful the aftermath of the attack, promising stricter laws and harsher penalties.
He has announced a sweeping buyback strategy to "get guns disconnected our streets".
It is the largest weapon buyback since 1996, erstwhile Australia tightened firearms laws successful the aftermath of a wide shooting that killed 35 radical astatine Port Arthur.
Albanese has besides ordered a reappraisal of constabulary and quality services.
