Philippines visit, extremist preachers and Islamic State influence: How Bondi Beach father-son duo was radicalised

Belongings of members of the Jewish community are seen at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 15, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Australia is confronting one of its deadliest acts of violence in decades after a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach left 15 people dead during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, December 14. Authorities now say the attack was a terrorist act inspired by the Islamic State, allegedly carried out by a father and son who had recently travelled overseas.

The accused shooters, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, opened fire on crowds gathered near the beachfront. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram was critically injured and later taken to hospital. Police confirmed on Tuesday, December 16, that he has since regained consciousness.

Terrorism angle under investigation

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators believe the attack was ideologically motivated and linked to Islamic State.

“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, allegedly committed by a father and son. There is no evidence to suggest other individuals were involved in this attack; however, we caution that this could change given it is early in our investigation,” Barrett said, according to The Guardian.

She stressed that the case should not be viewed through a religious lens.

“These are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organisation, not a religion,” she said.

Barrett added that investigators had gathered significant material in the early stages of the probe. “Alleged evidence has provided investigators with a swathe of information that has enabled them to make this initial assessment about the alleged individuals involved and their motivations.”

Police are treating the shooting as an act of terrorism aimed at the Jewish community. It is the worst mass shooting Australia has witnessed in nearly 30 years.

Casualties and acts of bravery

Alongside the 15 fatalities, at least 24 people were injured and remain in hospital, including 10 who were listed in critical condition. Among them is Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim father of two who was caught on camera tackling and disarming one of the attackers.

Al Ahmed, who suffered gunshot wounds, has been widely praised for his bravery and is being treated at a Sydney hospital.

Evidence recovered from suspects

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that investigators recovered extremist material from a vehicle linked to the attackers.

“I also confirmed that the vehicle, which is registered to the younger male, contained IEDs, but I also confirm … that it contained two homemade ISIS flags,” Lanyon said.

He also addressed reports about the suspects’ recent travel.

“There have been reports in the news about our two offenders travelling to the Philippines last month. I can confirm that they did travel to the Philippines. The reasons why they went to the Philippines, and the purpose of that, and where they went when they were there, is under investigation at the moment,” he said.

Lanyon urged patience as investigators work through the details. “We continue to work through the motive of this tragedy. And we’ll continue to do so. I think it’s really important that our investigators continue to be given time to do that. This is a very complex investigation, and important that we do it thoroughly.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the assessment that extremist ideology played a role.

“It would appear that there is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organisation, by ISIS. Some of the evidence which is being procured, including the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized, are part of that,” he said.

He added, “[The] radical perversion of Islam is absolutely a problem. It is something that has been identified globally as a problem as well. Isis created an evil ideology that has been called out, not just by the Australian government but globally right now.”

Naveed Akram and extremist networks

Investigators are also examining Naveed Akram’s past links to extremist figures in Australia. According to an ABC report, the domestic intelligence agency ASIO had looked into him in 2019 after uncovering connections to a Sydney-based pro-Islamic State network.

Counterterrorism officials told the broadcaster that Naveed Akram had associations with Wisam Haddad, a controversial cleric accused of influencing several Australian jihadists. Haddad has never been charged with a terrorism offence but is known for inflammatory rhetoric.

Haddad told ABC he “vehemently denies any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi Beach”.

The cleric has previously drawn attention for antisemitic sermons. In July, the Federal Court ruled that he breached the Racial Discrimination Act for delivering antisemitic lectures at his Al Madina Dawah Centre. He had argued that Jewish people could not be offended because the lectures were delivered privately to a Muslim audience. The Guardian reported that the sermons described Jewish people in the seventh century as “mischievous,” “treacherous,” and “vile.”

Senior officials told ABC that Naveed Akram had worshipped at the centre and acted as a street preacher for Haddad’s Dawah Van organisation. Authorities are also examining his alleged links to Youssef Uweinat, a convicted Islamic State youth recruiter.

Philippines trip under scrutiny

A key focus of the investigation is the Akrams’ recent month-long trip to the Philippines. Immigration officials confirmed that Sajid and Naveed Akram arrived in the country on November 1 and departed on November 28, with the southern city of Davao listed as their destination.

Security sources told ABC that the pair may have travelled to receive “military-style training.”

Southern Philippines has long been associated with Islamist militancy. Since the early 1990s, the region of Mindanao has hosted training camps after earlier bases along the Pakistan Afghanistan border were dismantled.

Australia designated the Islamic State of East Asia, a regional affiliate, as a terrorist organisation in 2017. While authorities say there are no confirmed links between that group and Australia, past connections between Australians and militant groups operating in the Philippines have been documented.

The Australian Federal Police is now working to determine where the Akrams travelled during their stay and whether they had contact with extremist networks before returning to Australia.