- Australian authorities say the mass shooting that killed 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, Sydney, was a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.
- Two suspects, a father and son, Sajid Akram (50) and Naveed Akram (24), were identified as the perpetrators. The father was shot dead by police, and the son remains in critical but stable condition in hospital.
- Police recovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags in the younger suspects’ vehicle.
- Video footage shows the younger suspect had previously preached Islam outside train stations in Sydney.
- Both suspects traveled to the Philippines in November, visiting Manila and Davao in Mindanao, a region with a history of Islamist insurgencies. Authorities are investigating possible connections to terrorist networks, but no confirmed links to organized groups have been found yet.
- Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian civilian, tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen, and is currently recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. He has been hailed as a hero globally, with a GoFundMe raising nearly A$2 million.
Australian Police Say Bondi Beach Mass Shooting Inspired by Islamic State
