Shocking new details have surfaced about last weekend’s mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where two gunmen opened fire on crowds gathered to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The attack killed 15 people and left over 40 injured, including two police officers. Court documents released on Monday indicate that the accused gunmen, Sajid Akram and his father Naveed Akram, conducted specialised weapons training before carrying out the shooting. Police allege the pair practiced at an undisclosed location in rural Australia and created a tactical plan before arriving at Bondi Beach.
The newly released information also reveals that the attackers visited the area days earlier to study the location in what investigators describe as a reconnaissance trip. Their preparations reportedly went beyond firearms. According to police files, the pair attempted to use improvised explosive devices during the attack. Four homemade bombs were thrown toward the crowd minutes before the shooting began, but none detonated. Authorities say three of the devices were pipe bombs, while the fourth was a tennis ball bomb. A fifth suspected explosive was later discovered in the trunk of the car used to reach Bondi Beach.
Investigators also recovered a video recorded by the accused, which police describe as extremist content. In the video, Sajid and Naveed Akram sit in front of an Islamic State flag, recite Quranic verses, and make statements explaining their motive for what they call the Bondi attack. The video includes anti-Zionist messages and references to ideological motivations behind the shooting.
As Bondi Beach slowly returns to normalcy following a week of mourning, police helicopters continue to patrol the coastline. The investigation now focuses on uncovering how the attackers acquired weapons, constructed explosives, and organised their operation with little detection. Authorities say the detailed training footage, explosive evidence, and extremist video point to a planned act of terrorism rather than a spontaneous attack.
