Australia Terror Attack: Left on the Pretext of a Fishing Trip and Left 16 Dead; Full Profile of Pakistani Father–Son Attackers

Sydney (The Uttam Hindu): Australia’s well-known city of Sydney was shaken after a deadly attack at Bondi Beach in New South Wales claimed the lives of 16 innocent people. The incident took place during celebrations of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and has now been officially declared a terrorist attack. Investigations have revealed disturbing details, pointing to a father–son duo of Pakistani origin as the alleged attackers.

According to authorities, the 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, was killed in police retaliation, while his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital. Australian security agencies are also searching for a third suspect believed to be involved in the attack.

Investigators said Sajid Akram worked as a fruit vendor. To carry out the plan, the father and son reportedly told their family that they were leaving for a weekend fishing trip, while their actual intention was to execute the attack. After the incident, police conducted a raid at their residence in the western Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg.

Meanwhile, Naveed’s mother, Verena, spoke to the media defending her son, claiming he was a simple and disciplined individual with no history of substance abuse or bad company. She stated that he would return straight home after work and also helped with household chores.

However, security agencies are examining other angles. It has emerged that Naveed studied at an Islamic center in Australia, prompting investigators to look into whether he had any links with radical networks. Given the Pakistani nationality of the suspects, agencies are also probing possible overseas connections and are investigating whether there were any links to international extremist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hamas, or Hezbollah.

Suspicion is also being examined from an Iran-related angle due to the timing and target of the attack. The incident occurred during a Jewish religious festival, and recent global developments involving threats against Israeli and Jewish interests have led investigators to consider this possibility. Australia recently designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization and expelled the Iranian ambassador, escalating tensions between the two countries. Although Iran’s foreign ministry has officially condemned the attack, Australian agencies have not ruled out any foreign conspiracy and say all aspects of the case remain under investigation.