One of the men accused of carrying out Sunday's deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach had previously been investigated by Australia's domestic spy agency over suspected links to Islamic extremists. The shocking revelation comes as the community reels from an attack that claimed the lives of fifteen innocent people.
Attack Details and Suspects' Backgrounds
According to authorities, Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, allegedly used long-range firearms to target Jewish festival-goers during a Hanukah celebration. Sajid Akram, who was a licensed gun owner, was killed at the scene following a shootout with police. His son, Naveed, remains in a Sydney hospital under police guard, suffering from critical injuries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed Akram had come to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) back in October 2019. This was related to suspected associations with Islamic extremists in Sydney and connections to the Al Madina Dawah Centre, a venue known for spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric in the past.
"He was examined on the basis of being associated with others, and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence," the Prime Minister stated. Consequently, Naveed was not placed on any formal ASIO watchlist at that time.
Philippines Connection and Evolving Threat
Investigations have uncovered that the father and son travelled recently to the Philippines, allegedly to prepare for the attack. The Philippines is considered a hotbed for developing terrorists and militant cells, including members of Islamic State East Asia (ISEA), an officially recognised affiliate of the Islamic State.
Australian National Security notes that ISEA has conducted frequent and violent attacks in the region, including suicide bombings, and remains a deadly threat. "ISEA remains a deadly terrorist threat in the Philippines, with the Southeast Asia country a target destination for foreign terrorist fighters," the agency states.
Government Response and Agency Scrutiny
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke addressed the public on Tuesday, explaining the 2019 assessment. He stated there was nothing at the time to suggest Naveed held ideologies that would lead to Sunday's horrific act.
"This is more than half a decade ago... he did not have an ideology or a motivation that matched those other people," Minister Burke told Sunrise. "In the years that followed, that changed."
When questioned about potential reviews of ASIO's processes, Burke expressed full confidence in the agency, noting they constantly undergo evaluation. He emphasised that while agencies work tirelessly to keep Australians safe, they can never be "all-seeing and all-knowing."
The suspects had been staying at an Airbnb in Campsie, approximately half an hour from their family home in Bonnyrigg in southwest Sydney. Forensic teams were seen inspecting the Bonnyrigg property on Monday. Charges are yet to be laid against Naveed Akram as the police investigation continues to probe the backgrounds of both individuals.
