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Bondi Beach attacks: What we know and what's fake news
A deadly attack at a Hanukkah festival in Sydney’s Bondi Beach sparked misinformation as police investigate.
Police officers secure the area near Bondi Beach a mass shooting attack that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach in Sydney [Getty]
The harrowing attack on a Jewish festival in Australia on Sunday has led to a wave of disinformation about the suspects, as more details continue to emerge.
The two suspects have been named as a father and son, including 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while his 50-year-old father was shot dead by police.
At least 15 people were killed and 42 taken to hospital after armed men opened fire on a Hanukkah festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with a Muslim man hailed as a hero for tackling one of the assailants.
Here is what we know about the massacre so far.
What happened?
Emergency services were dispatched to Archer Park near Bondi Beach at 6.47 pm local time after reports of shootings as a crowd celebrated the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The ages of the dead ranged from an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor to a 10-year-old girl.
The two suspects were involved in a shootout with police, resulting in two injured officers in a critical but stable condition, and the two men accused of carrying out the attack either shot dead or seriously injured.
One of the alleged shooters, Naveed Akram, was born in Australia. His father, Sajid Akram, is said to have arrived in the country on a student visa in 1998 and extended his stay multiple times.
How was it stopped?
Police shot dead one of the alleged assailants, while Naveed was also shot but survived and is now being treated in hospital under close police guard. He is expected to stand trial once he recovers.
Police and Australian authorities have praised a 42-year-old Syrian man who bravely confronted one of the gunmen and grabbed a rifle from him.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, a father of two from Idlib province, has been hailed as a hero, with police saying his actions undoubtedly saved many lives. He is currently being treated for gunshot wounds sustained during the attack and is in a stable condition.
Donald Trump personally praised Al Ahmed, calling him "a very brave person", while New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited him in hospital, describing him as a "real-life hero".
What has been the response?
Authorities have faced criticism over the fact that Sajid Akram held licences for six firearms, while Naveed had been on a watch list in 2019, yet no action was taken against him.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said an "assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence".
The government is expected to rush through new legislation restricting access to guns, following public outrage that a member of the public was able to obtain the rifles used in the attack, apparently through legal means.
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