Australian police say the gunmen behind the Bondi incident were inspired by Islamic State and had previously travelled to the Philippines

Two suspected gunmen who carried out a deadly attack on a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach had travelled to the Philippines prior to the assault and appeared to be inspired by Islamic State, Australian police said on Tuesday.

The shooting on Sunday, which left 15 people dead, was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades and is being investigated as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.

The death toll has since risen to 16, including one of the alleged attackers. Police identified the deceased gunman as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by officers at the scene. His 24-year-old son, believed to be his accomplice and identified by local media as Naveed Akram, remains in critical condition in hospital after also being shot.

Authorities said both men travelled to the Philippines last month, with the purpose of the trip now under investigation. Philippine police have confirmed they are examining the matter. Islamic State-linked networks have historically operated in parts of the Philippines, particularly in the country’s south, though their influence has significantly declined in recent years following the 2017 Marawi siege.

“Early indications suggest this was a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, allegedly carried out by a father and son,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a news conference.
“These are the alleged actions of individuals aligned with a terrorist organisation, not a religion,” she added.

Police said a vehicle registered to the younger suspect contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to ISIS, a militant group designated as a terrorist organisation by Australia and many other countries.

Investigators believe the pair opened fire on hundreds of people at the festival during a roughly 10-minute rampage at one of Australia’s most popular tourist locations, triggering panic as people fled or sought shelter before police shot both suspects.

Around 25 survivors are being treated at hospitals across Sydney, officials said.

Memorial and community response

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon visited Bondi on Tuesday, laying flowers at a growing memorial and urging the government to take stronger measures to protect Australia’s Jewish community.

“Only Australians of Jewish faith are forced to worship behind closed doors, with CCTV and guards,” Maimon said.
“My heart is torn apart. This is insane.”

Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents over the past 16 months, prompting the head of the country’s main intelligence agency to identify antisemitism as the top threat to life.

Bondi Beach reopened on Tuesday but remained largely deserted under grey skies, as mourners continued to gather at a memorial near the Bondi Pavilion, just metres from the site of the attack.

Bondi, located about 8.2 kilometres from Sydney’s city centre, is one of Australia’s most recognisable beaches and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

“This is the country our grandparents came to so we could feel safe,” said 25-year-old Olivia Robertson, who visited the memorial before work.
“And now this has happened right here. It’s shocking.”

Acts of bravery and calls for reform

Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim father of two who confronted one of the gunmen and seized his rifle, remains hospitalised with gunshot wounds. He has been widely hailed as a hero, including by U.S. President Donald Trump. A GoFundMe campaign for Ahmed has raised more than A$1.9 million.

The attack has also reignited debate over Australia’s gun laws after police confirmed Sajid Akram was a licensed firearm owner with six registered weapons. Authorities clarified that he obtained his gun licence in 2023, not 2015 as previously reported.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said firearm regulations introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre should be reviewed. However, former Prime Minister John Howard, who enacted the landmark gun reforms, cautioned against allowing gun law debates to distract from confronting antisemitism.

The victims ranged in age and background, including a rabbi who was a father of five, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan. Two police officers injured in the attack remain in critical but stable condition.

Matilda’s aunt, Lina Chernykh, described the family’s grief.
“I still can’t believe this happened,” she told local media.
“I keep hoping it’s some terrible joke — that it’s not real.”