Australian authorities have confirmed that one of the two perpetrators responsible for the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday was from Hyderabad, India.
At least 15 people were killed in the attack during a Jewish Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach.
The assailant, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, held an Indian passport despite having relocated to Australia nearly three decades ago, reports NDTV.
Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. His 24‑year‑old son, Naveed Akram, who is alleged to have participated in the assault, sustained injuries and remains hospitalised under police custody.
Australian investigative agencies have categorised the incident as a terrorist act motivated by the ideology of the so‑called Islamic State group.
According to the Telangana Director General of Police, Sajid Akram was a resident of Hyderabad before migrating to Australia on a student visa in November 1998. He had obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad prior to his departure in pursuit of employment opportunities.
Having lived in Australia for around 27 years, Akram maintained only sporadic contact with his relatives in Hyderabad. Senior police officials in Telangana emphasised that there is no evidence suggesting any operational or ideological link between Akram’s reported radicalisation and India.
His most recent visit to Hyderabad was in 2022. While he retained his Indian passport, his two children — a son and a daughter — were born in Australia and hold Australian citizenship.
Investigators revealed that Akram’s ties with his extended family in Hyderabad had been severed years ago following familial disputes.
Relatives are reported to have distanced themselves from him long before the attack. Police noted that Akram did not attend his father’s funeral rites after his death in 2017.
After settling in Australia, Akram married Venera Grosso, described by authorities as a woman of European descent. The couple had two children, Naveed and a daughter, and established permanent residency in Australia.
