One of the worst shooting cases in Australian history claimed the life of Sajid Akram, who is a 50-year-old man and was of Hyderabadi origin and belonged to Telangana,
as per reports from Telangana’s police officials. Akram, who moved to Australia nearly three decades ago, was killed during an altercation with the Australian police for a mass shooting that took place during the event of Hannukah celebrations held at the renowned Bondi Beach on Sunday night. The incident initially claimed the lives of 15 persons but eventually reached 16 as Akram was also killed during an exchange of gunfire between the shooters and Australian law enforcement officials, as reported by News agency PTI on Tuesday.
The Telangana Police confirmed that Sajid Akram had shifted to Australia 27 years ago and has hardly been in contact with his relatives, who are living in Hyderabad all these years. According to reports, there are preliminary indications that his relatives knew little or nothing at all about his activities and beliefs in the recent past years.
The Police further clarified that there are no signs of any telangana influence that could have contributed to his being a radicalized individual.
Sajid Akram was joined by his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram in the terror act, according to the investigators. The two reportedly opened fire with guns at a Hanukkah party at Bondi Beach, which is a major tourist site located in Sydney. This rash and bloody attack left 15 people dead and several others injured at the scene. Sajid Akram was later gunned down by police officers who were responding to the terror act and died from the exchange of gunfire. His son Naveed is still alive but is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital and is under the close guard of the police.
The attack had been widely condemned by the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who described the incident as an act of evil antisemitic terrorism. Albanese condoled with the families of the victims and assured the nation that the government would do all that could be done to ensure that those behind the terror act were brought to book. He reiterated that the terror act had targeted Jews in Australia.
Australian Police officials reported that preliminary findings suggested that nothing related to either the factor of being from India or from Telangana has been seen regarding Sajid Akram or his son turning to violent extremism. These views were also shared by the Indian government, stating that Sajid Akram has no records of crime or intelligence from before his move from India.
According to Reuters, Sajid Akram had been to India six times since he settled in Australia. Despite his visits to India, his family claimed not to know of his radical thoughts and engagement with any radical activities. Confirmation came from Indian police officials that they were fully cooperating with their Australian federal and other international colleagues to investigate the shooting at Bondi Beach.
In another incident, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration has confirmed that Sajid Akram was of Indian nationality who visited the Philippines last year. Dana Sandoval, a spokesperson of the Bureau of Immigration said that Sajid Akram of Indian nationality and resident of Australia and his son Naveed of Australian nationality jointly arrived in the Philippines from Sydney on November 1st of 2025. Both of them had Davao as their destination.
According to the spokesman, Sajid Akram and Naveed stayed in the Philippines for several weeks before they departed on November 28 2025. They took a connecting flight from Davao to Manila with Sydney as their destination. The Philippines’ authorities confirmed they have shared travel details to the investigation team from Australia. “They took a connection flight from Davao to Manila. Sydney was their destination. They left on November 28 2025,” he explained.
While efforts continue to uncover more information, law enforcement officials in a number of nations have been piecing together information on Sajid Akram in a bid to determine what might have driven the attack. Bondi Beach attack brings light to a number of concerns on extremism, protection, and safety, which have become a problem in Australia.
