Bondi Beach Shooter Confirmed as Indian National

The Telangana Police in India has confirmed that one of the two men involved in the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, was originally from southern India, dismissing false reports circulated by several media outlets that wrongly identified the suspect as Pakistani.

The attacker, Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed by police at the scene in Sydney on Sunday, was born in Hyderabad, the capital of India’s Telangana state, according to Indian police officials.

Authorities said Akram had limited contact with his family in India and had returned there only six times since migrating to Australia in 1998.

Indian officials stressed that Akram’s family had no knowledge of any extremist beliefs or activities and rejected claims linking his alleged radicalization to India or to any local influence in Telangana.

They also confirmed that Akram had no criminal record in India, held a university degree, and had moved to Australia in search of employment before marrying a woman of European origin.

Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed, are suspected of killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more during an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach. Investigators believe the attack was premeditated.

Despite clear confirmations from Australian and Indian authorities, several media outlets, predominantly Indian, circulated misinformation on social media and digital platforms, falsely claiming that the shooter was Pakistani.

Indian police said Akram’s visits to India were brief and largely related to family matters, including property issues and visits to elderly parents. He reportedly did not return even at the time of his father’s death. Officials reiterated that there was no evidence of extremist activity during any of his trips.

While Akram traveled on an Indian passport, authorities said his children were born in Australia and are Australian citizens.

Investigators are also examining a trip taken by the father and son to the Philippines in the weeks leading up to the attack. Immigration records show they entered the country on November 1 and departed on November 28. Akram travelled using his Indian passport, while Naveed used Australian identification.

Australian media have reported, citing security sources, that the pair may have sought military-style training during the trip, though officials said these claims have not yet been independently verified.

Philippine and Australian authorities are cooperating closely as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Naveed Akram had previously come under scrutiny over alleged associations with a Sydney-based extremist cell.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Naveed first attracted the attention of authorities in 2019 due to his associations, but at the time, security agencies assessed that there was no indication of an immediate threat or intent to carry out violence.