Father and son named as the gunmen who killed 15 people in the Bondi Beach terror attack

SYDNEY — In the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades, two gunmen who carried out a terror attack at a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach have been publicly identified as a father and son duo: 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram. The attack on 14 December 2025 killed 15 people and injured more than 40 others at a crowded Jewish community celebration, authorities and local media have confirmed. The massacre has been labelled a terrorist act motivated by antisemitism and has sent shockwaves across Australia and the world.

Who were the attackers

Police and media reports identify the alleged shooters as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, residents of Sydney’s western suburbs who carried out the mass shooting during the “Chanukah by the Sea” Hanukkah celebration in Archer Park near Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach.

• Sajid Akram, aged 50, was a licensed firearms holder who legally owned six registered weapons, including rifles and shotguns that were recovered by police. He was shot and killed at the scene by police after opening fire on the crowd.
• Naveed Akram, aged 24, was taken into custody in critical condition after being shot by police during the response. He remains under police guard in hospital and is expected to face criminal charges once his condition stabilises. His exact motives have not been publicly detailed by law enforcement, but the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack with antisemitic overtones.

Authorities also discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a vehicle linked to the suspects — devices that, although present, did not detonate. Police continue to investigate the extent of the attackers’ planning and motives, as well as whether any accomplices played a role.

The attack: tragedy unfolds at a Jewish festival

The shooting happened on a summer evening during a Hanukkah festival organised by the Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish community event that drew more than a thousand people. As the sunset approached on the first night of the Festival of Lights, Sajid and Naveed opened fire from an elevated position near the gathering, causing panic as families — including children and elders — tried to flee.Sky News

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence as an “act of pure evil” and “a deliberate attack on the Jewish community,” underscoring the calculated nature of the assault and its timing during a religious celebration. Leaders from around the world, including U.S. and European officials, have also expressed grief and solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

Victims: lives cut tragically short

Victims of the attack ranged in age from children to the elderly, with one of those killed identified as 10-year-old Matilda, whose family described her as a friendly and joyful child. Other named victims included Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a London-born leader in the Bondi community, Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman, and Peter Meagher, a former Sydney police officer and community volunteer. Families and friends have shared stories of deep loss, describing loved ones as pillars of their communities whose deaths have left families grieving and shaken.

National shock and calls for action

Australia’s terror attack has prompted an intense national conversation about gun laws, antisemitism and community safety. The fact that the father–son attackers obtained weapons legally has fuelled calls from political leaders to strengthen firearm regulations. Prime Minister Albanese said that tougher gun laws would be discussed by the national cabinet in the wake of the tragedy.

Security agencies are also examining whether the younger suspect had any previous flags with intelligence services — the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) reportedly looked into Naveed Akram several years earlier over alleged associations with extremist circles, though he was not considered an imminent threat.

A community in mourning

Sydney’s eastern suburbs, home to a vibrant Jewish community, have been particularly devastated. Bondi Beach and surrounding streets remained closed as clean-up and investigation efforts continued, with memorials and tributes springing up near Archer Park. Religious leaders called for unity and compassion, emphasising resilience in the face of targeted violence.

The identification of the shooters, part of the unfolding investigative picture, adds a human — and horrifying — face to the tragedy, raising urgent questions about radicalisation, public safety and how such an atrocity could occur at what should have been a peaceful holiday celebration.