Bondi Beach Terror: Community Mourns, Nation Seeks Answers

On December 14, Sydney’s Bondi Beach became the site of a terrible event when a mass shooting disrupted a Hanukkah celebration. A joyful gathering for the holiday’s first night turned into Australia’s deadliest shooting since 1996. As the nation deals with the loss of 15 lives, investigators are finding a trail of radicalization from Sydney railway stations to the southern Philippines.

The attack was done by Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed, 24. Sajid, an Indian national who came to Australia as a student in 1998, was killed by police during the shooting. His son, Naveed, survived but is heavily guarded in a hospital. After waking from a coma, Naveed was charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act.

Evidence of the pair’s extremist views soon appeared. Authorities found two Islamic State (ISIS) flags in their car. Investigations showed videos of Naveed preaching outside Sydney transit spots. A key detail is a trip they took to the Philippines in November, just before the shooting. Investigators are tracking their movements in Davao to see if they met with ISIS-linked groups there. Sajid’s family in Hyderabad, India, were shocked, saying they saw no signs of radical thoughts when he visited home.

The tragedy has greatly affected the local community. The 15 victims included Rabbis Eli Schlanger and Yaakov Levitan, and 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman. Boris and Sofia Gurman died trying to stop the attackers, and a volunteer, Marika Pogany, died on the beach she loved. The youngest victim, Matilda, 10, was the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants seeking a safer life in Australia.

Besides the dead, 40 people were hospitalized, including two police officers. One young officer, Jack Hibbert, lost sight in one eye, showing the long recovery ahead for many.

After the shooting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese quickly addressed the country’s gun laws. Despite Australia having strict gun laws, Sajid Akram had a valid license and six registered weapons, prompting a review. Suggested changes include limits on the number of guns someone can own and more frequent checks. The government believes that because people can become radicalized, a license should not be permanent but checked regularly for public safety.