Australia’s Bondi Beach Massacre Was Islamic State–Inspired Terror Attack: Albanese
Deadly terror attack targets Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, which resulted in 15 deaths and dozens injured, was motivated by Islamic State ideology. The attack targeted hundreds attending the "Chanukah by the Sea" event, marking the first night of Hanukkah with festivities including food, face painting, and a petting zoo. Authorities have declared it an antisemitic terrorist incident, the deadliest in Australia's history.
The perpetrators were Sajid Akram, 50, a licensed firearms holder who owned a fruit shop, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, a bricklayer. Sajid was fatally shot by police at the scene after exchanging fire, while Naveed sustained critical injuries and remains in hospital under guard. Police recovered multiple long-barrelled weapons, including rifles and shotguns, some legally obtained, along with improvised explosive devices and Islamic State flags from their vehicle.
Albanese revealed that Naveed had been investigated by Australia's intelligence agency ASIO in 2019 for associations with individuals linked to an Islamic State cell, though he was not deemed an imminent threat. The prime minister described the act as driven by an "ideology of hate" persisting for over a decade, emphasizing that the pair acted alone without evidence of a broader cell.
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The assault began around 6:40 pm as thousands enjoyed a summer evening at the iconic beach. The gunmen fired from an elevated pedestrian bridge overlooking Archer Park for several minutes, unleashing over 100 shots. Victims included children, a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, a Holocaust survivor, and assistant rabbi Eli Schlanger. At least 25 survivors remain hospitalized, some in critical condition.
In a moment of heroism, bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, tackled and disarmed Sajid Akram despite being shot twice. A GoFundMe for al-Ahmed has raised over A$1 million, with leaders praising his actions as lifesaving. Vigils have been held nationwide, and the government has pledged stricter gun laws in response to the tragedy.
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