Indian police say Bondi Beach attacker was from Hyderabad in India, who moved to Australia in 1998

Sajid Akram

Sajid Akram (c. 1975 – December 14, 2025) was an Indian-origin Australian permanent resident identified as one of the perpetrators in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia. Alongside his son, Naveed Akram, he carried out a mass shooting targeting a Hanukkah celebration ("Chanukah by the Sea"), resulting in 15 deaths and dozens of injuries. The attack was classified as terrorism, motivated by Islamic State (IS) ideology, marking one of Australia's deadliest mass shootings since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Early Life and Background

Born in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Sajid Akram completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree before migrating to Australia in November 1998 on a student visa. The visa was converted to a partner visa in 2001 after his marriage to a woman of European origin, and he later held resident return visas. He retained Indian citizenship and an Indian passport, visiting India approximately six times (last in 2022) primarily for family matters. Telangana police confirmed he had no criminal record in India, and his family there reported no knowledge of any radicalization.

Akram lived in Bonnyrigg, south-west Sydney, where he owned or operated a fruit shop. He held a New South Wales firearms licence (issued in 2023 after an earlier lapsed application) for recreational hunting/vermin control, legally possessing six high-powered rifles, several of which were used in the attack.

Family

Sajid Akram had at least three children, all Australian-born citizens. His son, Naveed Akram (born c. 2001), a former bricklayer who had recently become unemployed, survived the attack with critical injuries (later regaining consciousness) and faced terrorism charges. Naveed had prior ASIO scrutiny in 2019 for ties to a Sydney-based IS cell and associations with jihadist preacher Wisam Haddad.

The Bondi Beach Attack

On December 14, 2025, Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly targeted the "Chanukah by the Sea" event at Archer Park near Bondi Beach. They had rented short-term accommodation in Campsie and told family they were going on a fishing trip. Evidence included IS flags in their vehicle and possible manifesto materials. Sajid was shot and killed by police at the scene; Naveed was critically injured.

Prior to the attack, the pair traveled to the Philippines in November 2025 (Sajid on his Indian passport, Naveed on an Australian one), reportedly receiving military-style training potentially linked to jihadist networks.

Investigation and Clarifications

Initial reports and speculation incorrectly suggested Pakistani origins for the attackers. However, Telangana police and Philippine immigration authorities confirmed Sajid Akram's Indian nationality and Hyderabad roots, with no radicalization ties to India. The BBC and other outlets reported that Sajid traveled on an Indian passport, correcting earlier misinformation.

Australian authorities investigated prior associations, including Naveed's links to IS elements. The attack prompted debates on gun laws, counter-terrorism, and immigration.

Note: Information based on reports from BBC, ABC News, The Guardian, Reuters, The Hindu, and other outlets as of December 17, 2025. Investigations ongoing.