Australian authorities have confirmed that one of the two men involved in the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was originally from Hyderabad and carried an Indian passport. The incident, which took place during a public gathering at the popular beachfront, left several people dead and many others injured, sending shockwaves across Australia.
Police identified the deceased attacker as Sajid Akram, who had been living in Australia for several years. Despite residing in the country for a long period, he had not taken Australian citizenship and continued to hold an Indian passport. He was shot dead by police during the operation to neutralise the attackers.
The second attacker, believed to be Akram’s son, was critically injured in the police action and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital under heavy security. Authorities have said he will be questioned once his medical condition stabilises.
Australian police have described the incident as a targeted and serious act of violence and are investigating possible extremist motivations behind the attack. Searches carried out after the shooting reportedly led to the recovery of materials that are now being examined as part of the probe.
Indian authorities, meanwhile, have stated that Akram had minimal contact with his family in Hyderabad in recent years and that there is no immediate indication of any local links or activities connected to the case in India.
The Bondi Beach shooting has prompted heightened security measures across Sydney, particularly around crowded public places, as investigations continue into the background, movements and possible radicalisation of the attackers.