Bondi Beach Attacker Identified As 24-Year-Old Naveed Akram, Ideological Motivation Under Probe

Australian authorities have identified one of the gunmen involved in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left at least 12 people dead, and are investigating

a possible terror angle, though it has not been confirmed so far.

The shooter, identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, along with other gunman, opened fire on a crowd of nearly 1,000–2,000 attendees at the Hanukkah event on Sunday. As per local media reports, over 50 shots were fired as panic erupted across the beachfront, forcing people to flee or shelter indoors.

Australian counter-terrorism teams are actively probing possible ideological or extremist motivations behind the attack, as it targeted a religious and cultural gathering that provided both symbolic value and maximum visibility, sources told CNN-News18.

As part of the investigation, security agencies have carried out raids at Akram’s residence in Bonnyrigg, a suburb in south-west Sydney, to identify signs of online radicalisation, including the consumption or circulation of extremist material and Gaza-linked narratives, sources added.

Bonnyrigg and surrounding areas in south-west Sydney have previously featured in counter-terrorism ideological mapping exercises, owing to past radicalisation cases, concerns over extremist returnees, and online extremist penetration, according to security assessments.

As per sources, the region has also been linked to investigations into earlier lone attacks.

What Happened At Bondi Beach?

At least 12 people were killed, and several others were injured after two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of nearly 1,000–2,000 attendees at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday.

As per local media reports, over 50 shots were fired as panic erupted across the beachfront, forcing people to flee or shelter indoors.

New South Wales (NSW) Police confirmed the incident and said that twelve people were killed in the shooting, including a man believed to be one of the shooters, while the second alleged gunman is in critical condition. At least 29 others have been injured, two of whom are police officers.

In a post on X, the police said that they were “responding to a developing incident” at Bondi Beach and urged the public to avoid the area and take shelter.

The police said that emergency services were called to Campbell Parade at around 6:45 pm local time after reports of shots being fired, prompting a large-scale response by officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command.

They further said that two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Authorities have urged residents to avoid the area as the entire zone remains under lockdown and an active security operation continues.