Australian authorities have released chilling new footage and details surrounding the deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach last December, as the government announces sweeping new security and gun control measures.
Pre-Attack Preparations and Arsenal
New South Wales Police have disseminated video evidence showing the attackers, Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram, conducting tactical training with shotguns in a rural area during October. The footage depicts the pair moving with purpose and firing weapons as part of their direct preparations for the assault.
Investigators state that two days prior to the attack, CCTV captured the suspects conducting a night-time reconnaissance mission around Bondi Beach, allegedly to survey the area and plan their movements for the day of the massacre.
A subsequent search of the men's rental property uncovered a hidden arsenal, which included a rifle, a shotgun, bomb-making equipment, and 3D-printed parts for firearm components. Copies of the Koran were also found at the site.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The violent incident targeted a Hanukkah event on December 14, resulting in a devastating toll of 15 fatalities and 40 injuries. The victims' ages spanned from 10 to 87 years old.
In addition to using firearms, the attackers are alleged to have thrown homemade pipe bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into the crowd. Police later confirmed these devices were "viable" but failed to detonate, potentially averting even greater destruction.
On a mobile phone belonging to the suspects, officers discovered extremist material, including a video in which the men sat before an Islamic State flag and appeared to outline their ideological motives for launching the terrorist attack.
Naveed Akram, who was injured and arrested at the scene, has now been charged with 59 offences and transferred to a prison facility.
Legislative Response and New Laws
In direct response to the tragedy, the New South Wales government has proposed the toughest gun laws in Australia. A key change would require Australian citizenship to hold a firearms licence—a measure that would have prevented Sajid Akram, an Indian citizen, from legally owning his six firearms.
At a national level, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to create a new criminal offence targeting adults who attempt to radicalise children. This follows broader legislation intended to criminalise hate speech and doxing across the country.
The community continues to mourn, with poignant scenes of remembrance, such as couples embracing in silence at the flower memorial beside Bondi Pavilion, underscoring the deep wounds left by the attack.
