Inside the Bondi Beach Tragedy and Sajid Akram’s Journey from Hyderabad

The shocking Bondi Beach attack has left Australia reeling. At least sixteen lives were lost during a Jewish community gathering, marking the country’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades. Among the attackers was Sajid Akram, a man whose roots trace back to Hyderabad, India.

Indian officials confirmed that Sajid, aged 50, originally lived in Tolichowki, Hyderabad, before moving to Australia in 1998 on a student visa. Despite settling abroad, he retained his Indian passport and only returned to India a handful of times, most recently in 2022. His family continues to reside in Hyderabad, with his elder brother working as a medical doctor.

Sajid’s son, Naveed Akram, 24, was born in Australia and holds Australian citizenship. He was identified as the second attacker in the Bondi massacre. Naveed was critically injured after being shot by police and remains under treatment in hospital.

Investigations reveal that Sajid had married a European woman after relocating to Australia. Officials noted that he did not maintain strong ties with his family back home, even missing his father’s funeral in 2017.

Authorities in the Philippines also confirmed Sajid’s nationality when he and his son traveled there in November 2025. Records show they entered the country as an Indian national and Australian citizen respectively, spending nearly a month in Davao before returning to Sydney.

Australian police reported finding improvised explosive devices and ISIS‑linked flags in a vehicle registered to Naveed. Videos have also surfaced showing him preaching extremist ideology in Sydney. Officials believe both father and son were radicalized by Daesh, though investigations are ongoing to determine how they were influenced.

The attack claimed victims from diverse backgrounds, including a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, and a young girl named Matilda Britvan. Two police officers were also critically injured. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the violence was driven by extremist ideology, not religion, as authorities continue to piece together the attackers’ path to radicalization.

The Bondi Beach tragedy has sparked global concern, highlighting the dangers of extremist influence and the devastating impact it can have on communities. Sajid Akram’s journey from Hyderabad to Australia underscores the complex web of identity, migration, and radicalization now under intense scrutiny.