Sydney Beach Attack: Suspected Islamic State under radar
New Delhi Dec 15: Investigators probing the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach are increasingly examining possible links to the Islamic State, after evidence recovered from the scene pointed to extremist symbolism and past intelligence concerns connected to the attackers.
The attack unfolded on Sunday when gunfire erupted at Bondi Beach, leaving 16 people dead and more than 40 others wounded. The violence struck as a crowd of over 1,000 people had gathered to mark the first day of Hanukkah, heightening concerns that the victims were deliberately chosen. Police later identified the shooters as 24-year-old Naveed Akram and 50-year-old Sajid Akram.
Although authorities have not yet officially established a motive, investigators recovered two Islamic State flags from the attackers’ vehicle. One of the flags was also visible in video footage from the scene, placed on the bonnet of the car allegedly used by the assailants, prompting counter-terror agencies to closely scrutinise the role of the terror group.
Security experts analysing the incident said the method and symbolism associated with the attack strongly resemble previous Islamic State-inspired operations. While the final motive remains under investigation, specialists believe the choice of date and location suggests an attempt to target a Jewish religious gathering and send a broader ideological message linked to Israel.
Australian agencies have stopped short of formally attributing responsibility to the Islamic State, but officials confirmed that all investigative leads are being pursued. The presence of the flags, along with intelligence inputs, has placed the terror group at the centre of the ongoing probe.
One of the attackers, Naveed Akram, had previously drawn the attention of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO. Six years ago, he was questioned for alleged connections with a Sydney-based Islamic State network, after authorities disrupted a planned extremist attack. His name resurfaced during the 2019 arrest of El Matari, a convicted Islamic State operative now serving a seven-year prison sentence.
Investigators say Matari, who had declared himself a commander of the Islamic State in Australia, maintained close ties with Naveed Akram and was allegedly planning a large-scale attack in Sydney. ASIO later found that Naveed had associations with multiple individuals linked to the terror outfit.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess acknowledged that Naveed was previously known to intelligence agencies, though not assessed as an immediate threat at the time. “We now need to examine what went wrong and how this incident unfolded,” Burgess said. Naveed is currently hospitalised under police custody, while Sajid Akram was killed during the exchange of gunfire.
Counter-terrorism analysts have ruled out the possibility of a lone-wolf attack, citing the involvement of more than one individual. They noted that while the attackers may have acted without direct operational support, the planning style, target selection and ideological markers are consistent with Islamic State-inspired violence.
Experts further suggested that the attackers may have independently executed a plan shaped by extremist ideology. The decision to strike during a Jewish festival, they said, aligns with patterns seen in previous Islamic State-linked attacks aimed at religious communities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the assault appeared to be a deliberate attempt to target the Jewish community on a significant religious occasion, adding that authorities were treating the incident with utmost seriousness.
Analysts also drew parallels with earlier attacks in Europe, including the 2016 Nice truck attack in France, where an assailant aligned with the Islamic State killed 86 people by targeting a large public gathering.
According to intelligence sources, Naveed Akram may have remained under the radar for years after coming to the attention of security agencies, possibly waiting for what he believed was the right moment to carry out an attack. Officials said this possibility is being closely examined as part of the investigation.
Police records show that Sajid Akram owned a fruit shop, while his son Naveed had reportedly lost his job as a bricklayer two months ago after his employer became insolvent. Media reports have claimed that the two were Pakistani nationals. Authorities also confirmed that Sajid had legally held a firearm licence for nearly a decade.
The investigation remains ongoing, with security agencies focusing on whether the Bondi Beach attack represents another instance of Islamic State-inspired violence, or a broader extremist plot that evaded detection for years. (Edited)
