Father and son ‘meticulously planned’ Bondi shooting for months, police allege

December 22, 2025 - 17:35

The two suspects in a deadly mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach carried out “tactical” training in the countryside, AFP reported Monday.

Father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades.

Police documents released Monday said the two had carried out “firearms training” in what was believed to be the New South Wales countryside prior to the shooting.

They said the suspects “meticulously planned” the attack for months, releasing pictures showing them firing shotguns and moving in what they described as a “tactical manner.”

The pair also recorded a video sitting in front of a flag of the Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh terrorist) group and detailing their motivations for the attack, police said.

The suspects also threw explosives at onlookers during the attack, which did not detonate, police said.

Facing growing political pressure over the attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would push for tough new laws creating “an aggravated offence for hate preaching”.

“We’re not going to let the ISIS-inspired terrorists win,” Albanese told reporters.