Bondi Beach Incident: Fatalities Reported at Hanukkah Event
Overview of Incident
On the first night of Hanukkah, an event was underway at a park in Bondi Beach, Sydney. Attendees included Jewish families and other individuals present at the beach.
- The event commenced at approximately 17:00 local time.
- Gunshots were reported, disrupting the event.
- The initial police notification regarding the incident was received at 18:47.
- Authorities stated that two individuals identified as gunmen caused at least 15 fatalities and injured dozens more.
Eyewitness Accounts and Video Evidence
An attendee reported taking protective action for their child due to the presence of gunshots. Witnesses described a chaotic environment as individuals attempted to evacuate the location.
- Video footage verified by the BBC showed background music from the Hanukkah event continuing as individuals crouched, and shots were audible. Further footage depicted people lying on the ground.
- The incident resulted in a mass movement of individuals from the park towards the beach, accompanied by reports of emergency sirens and vehicle horns. Some vehicle collisions were reported during the evacuation.
Timeline and Suspect Actions
A nearly 11-minute video, verified by the BBC, documented aspects of the incident, though its starting point relative to the first shot is undefined.
- The video shows two individuals, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, traversing Campbell Parade to a pedestrian bridge situated above the park.
- From this elevated position, the men allegedly used two sporting shotguns.
- One individual, believed to be Naveed Akram, remained on the bridge, while the other moved towards the park on foot.
- As the older man, believed to be Sajid Akram, moved away from the bridge, he discharged a firearm at individuals.
Intervention and Police Response
A passerby, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, disarmed Sajid Akram by wrestling the firearm from him. Ahmed then placed the weapon against a tree and indicated to officers that he was not the suspect.
- Ahmed sustained two gunshot wounds during the incident and was subsequently acknowledged by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns for his actions.
- Less than a minute after being disarmed, Sajid Akram reportedly returned to the bridge and resumed firing with another weapon.
- The shooting ceased approximately two minutes later, following the apparent injury of both men by police gunfire.
- Police arrived at the bridge, encountering the two injured individuals identified as the alleged gunmen, along with bystanders.
- Authorities later confirmed Sajid Akram died at the scene, and the other individual was critically injured and transported to a hospital.
Investigation Details
Police stated that both men resided in Bonnyrigg, a suburb approximately an hour's drive from Bondi Beach. Prior to the incident, they had reportedly relocated to a short-term rental in Campsie, a location closer to the beach.
- The family residence in Bonnyrigg became a focus of the police investigation.
- During a raid on the Bonnyrigg home, footage showed three individuals being arrested, who were subsequently released without charge.