Sydney Bondi Beach Attack Kills 15; One Suspect Identified as Indian National from Hyderabad
Sydney Terror Attack Leaves 15 Dead; Hyderabad-Born Indian Citizen Among Accused: Australian Police Confirm: A deadly attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach has claimed the lives of at least 15 people, sending shockwaves across Australia and abroad. Police have now confirmed that one of the two suspects involved in the attack was an Indian national originally from Hyderabad.
According to Australian authorities, the suspect, identified as Akram, was shot dead during the operation to neutralize the attackers. Telangana Police officials said that Akram had been living in Australia for nearly three decades but continued to hold Indian citizenship. His nationality came to light during background checks conducted on the father-son duo allegedly involved in the attack.
Investigators revealed that the second suspect was Akram’s son. Police said the two had told their family they were going fishing on the South Coast on Saturday. Instead, they travelled to Campsie, where they rented a room. During a search of the premises, police recovered two rifles. Authorities also confirmed that Sajid, the other accused, had held a valid gun licence since 2015, was a member of a gun club, and owned six registered firearms, which were allegedly used in the attack.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the father and son had travelled to the Philippines in November, and investigators are now probing the purpose of that visit as part of the broader terror investigation.
In the aftermath of the attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that his cabinet has agreed to tighten the country’s gun laws. The government will also work toward establishing a national firearms register, with a focus on reviewing the number of weapons allowed per licence and the duration of licence validity.
India has expressed strong solidarity with Australia following the tragedy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday, offering condolences and assuring full support to Australia in dealing with what has been described as a terrorist attack.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the motive behind the attack and examine potential international links.
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