Australian police have said that the father and son accused of carrying out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach acted alone and were not part of a wider terrorist network. Authorities said there was no evidence linking the suspects to an organised terrorist cell.
The attack took place on December 14 during a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed. Police described the shooting as ISIS-inspired but stressed that the suspects had no confirmed operational links to extremist groups abroad.
Read More: Bondi Beach and Misinformation
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators had found no indication that the accused were directed by others. She said the evidence so far suggested the pair planned and executed the attack independently.
The suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, had travelled to the southern Philippines weeks before the shooting, raising concerns about possible extremist ties. However, police said surveillance footage showed they rarely left their hotel during the trip.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says there is no evidence the Bondi attackers were part of a wider terrorist cell, and no evidence they trained or prepared during their month in the Philippines.
This is the same person who told us the Bondi massacre was not religiously… pic.twitter.com/P1hHgvOCUm
— David Hollyoake (@Holly_Da) December 30, 2025
Commissioner Barrett said inquiries were continuing to determine the purpose of the visit to Davao. She clarified that while the trip was suspicious, there was no proof it involved training or coordination with militant groups.
Police believe the pair meticulously planned the attack over several months. Investigators released images showing them training with firearms in rural Australia and recording videos expressing extremist views.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police during the attack. He was an Indian national who entered Australia in 1998. His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian citizen, remains in custody.
Naveed has been charged with 15 counts of murder and several other serious offences. Authorities said the case would proceed through the courts under Australia’s counterterrorism laws.
Read More: Bondi Beach observes somber Christmas after shooting
In response to the attack, security has been heightened across Sydney. New Year’s Eve celebrations will observe a minute of silence for the victims, while police will deploy armed units across major venues.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a nationwide crackdown on gun ownership and hate speech. He also unveiled Australia’s largest gun buyback scheme since 1996 and ordered a review of intelligence and policing arrangements.