Bondi gunmen allegedly threw homemade explosives and trained for weeks before attack, police say

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences, including 15 counts of murder, over the attack. He was shot by police during the incident and sustained critical injuries.

Australian police allege that the gunmen responsible for last week’s deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach began their assault by throwing multiple homemade explosive devices, according to newly released court documents. The material, made public after a temporary suppression order was lifted, provides the most detailed account yet of what investigators say was a carefully planned terrorist attack, the BBC reported.

Explosives thrown at the start of the attack

According to police allegations, four improvised explosive devices were thrown as the attackers approached the footbridge at Bondi Beach on 14 December. These included three pipe bombs and a so-called “tennis ball bomb”. None of the devices detonated, but police later assessed them as “viable”, meaning they were capable of exploding. A fifth explosive device was subsequently located in the suspects’ vehicle.

The attack left multiple people dead and injured at a Jewish festival marking Hanukkah, shocking Australia and prompting renewed debate about security, extremism and gun laws.

Charges and the accused

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences, including 15 counts of murder, over the attack. He was shot by police during the incident and sustained critical injuries. After being treated in hospital, he was released on Monday and transferred into prison custody. Akram did not appear at his most recent court hearing.

Police allege a second gunman, his father Sajid Akram, was directly involved in the attack. He was shot dead by police at the scene.

Alleged manifesto and extremist ideology

Police documents allege that the father and son recorded a video manifesto in October, weeks before the attack. In the video, the pair are said to be sitting in front of an Islamic State group flag. Investigators allege the recording details their motivation for the Bondi attack and includes condemnation of what they describe as the actions of “Zionists.”

Another video allegedly shows Naveed Akram reciting a passage from the Quran in Arabic. Police say the videos found on his phone indicate that both men were motivated by a violent extremist ideology linked to the Islamic State group.

Firearms training and preparation

Investigators also allege that video footage recovered from Naveed Akram’s phone shows the pair conducting firearms training in October, possibly in rural New South Wales. In the footage, police say, the two men are seen firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner.

Police claim this material supports their allegation that the attack was “meticulously planned” over many months, rather than being spontaneous.

Reconnaissance and movements before the attack

CCTV footage cited by police is said to show the Akrams conducting reconnaissance at Bondi Beach two days before the shooting. According to police, the men drove to the area, exited their vehicle and walked along the footbridge at the exact location where the shooting later occurred.

Further CCTV allegedly captured the pair leaving rented accommodation in the Sydney suburb of Campsie just hours before the attack. Police say they were seen carrying long, bulky items wrapped in blankets, which were later placed into their vehicle.

Weapons, flags and the final approach

Police allege the items carried from the Campsie accommodation included three firearms, the homemade explosive devices and two Islamic State flags. The pair then allegedly drove to Bondi Beach, parked their vehicle and placed the flags inside the front and rear windows.

After removing the firearms and bombs from the car, police say the men walked towards the footbridge. It was during this approach that the explosive devices were allegedly thrown, before the shooting began.

Suppression order lifted

A temporary suppression order had been imposed last week to protect the identities of survivors of the attack. That order was revoked on Monday following an application by media organisations to the New South Wales Local Court, although the names of most survivors remain redacted in the publicly released documents.

The allegations outlined by police will now form the basis of the prosecution case as proceedings against Naveed Akram continue.