Father and son behind Bondi Beach attack that ‘targeted the Jewish community’

Australian authorities on Sunday (Dec 14) said the two suspected gunmen behind a deadly attack during a Hanukkah celebration were a father and his son. The shooting left 16 people (including one of the shooters) dead and dozens injured at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Police said the 50-year-old father was shot and killed by officers at the scene, while his 24-year-old son remains hospitalised. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that investigators are no longer searching for any additional suspects, walking back earlier statements that suggested a possible third attacker. "I can say that we are not looking for a further offender," Lanyon told reporters.

One of the two Bondi Beach shooters has been identified

The younger suspect has been identified as Naveed Akram. Authorities have not released the name of the father but said he was a licensed gun owner.

Lanyon said police recovered six legally owned firearms at the scene and confirmed the older suspect had held a gun licence for about a decade. Officers also discovered improvised explosive devices inside one of the suspects’ vehicles.

“We will look closely at the motives behind this attack,” Lanyon said, adding that it remains a key focus of the investigation.

What happened at Bondi Beach?

More than 1,000 people had gathered at Bondi Beach when the shooting began on the first day of Hanukkah. The shooting unfolded during “Hanukkah by the Sea,” a public event held at Bondi Beach in Sydney to mark the start of the Jewish holiday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attackers were “deliberately targeting the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attackers appeared to have deliberately targeted the Jewish community.

At least 40 people were injured, including two police officers and three children, officials said. Among those wounded was 43-year-old fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed, who intervened after confronting one of the gunmen. According to AFP, al Ahmed was shot but managed to tackle the attacker and wrestle the weapon away.

A video circulating on social media shows al Ahmed emerging from behind a parked car along Campbell Parade, tackling the suspect moments after shots were fired, and disarming him. US President Donald Trump praised al-Ahmed’s actions during an event at the White House on Sunday, saying they “saved a lot of lives.”