Sajid Akram, named in the Bondi Beach shooting investigation, hails from Hyderabad, Telangana Police said Tuesday. He held an Indian passport, left India in 1998 with no adverse records, and his son is an Australian citizen, according to officials there.
Sajid Akram, 50, accused in the Bondi Beach firing incident during Hanukkah celebrations, was from Hyderabad and travelled on an Indian passport, Telangana Police said. Authorities noted that he had a clean record in India before leaving the country in 1998.
Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed, attacked a gathering on Sunday, leaving at least 16 dead. Akram was killed by police, while Naveed sustained injuries. Australian authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack, reportedly influenced by ISIS ideology.
Sajid Akram, who earned a B.Com degree in Hyderabad, moved to Australia seeking employment in November 1998, around 27 years ago. He married Venera Grosso, of European descent, and settled permanently in Australia. They have a son, Naveed, and a daughter. Akram still holds an Indian passport, while his children, born in Australia, are Australian citizens. He has visited India six times over the past 27 years.
Relatives in India stated that Akram had limited contact with his Hyderabad family over the past 27 years. He visited India six times after moving to Australia, mainly for family matters, and did not return even when his father passed away. The family claims to have had no knowledge of his radical beliefs or actions. Officials noted that the radicalisation of Sajid and his son Naveed appears unrelated to India or Telangana.
Indian relatives reported that Akram maintained minimal contact with his family in Hyderabad over 27 years. He returned to India six times for personal reasons, including family and property matters, but not during his father’s death. The family said they were unaware of his extremist mindset, and authorities indicated that the radicalisation of Sajid and Naveed had no ties to India or Telangana.
The Telangana Police said they would continue to fully cooperate with central agencies and other authorities whenever needed, and appealed to the public and media not to indulge in speculation or make claims without confirmed information.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly denounced the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Australia. In a post on X, he condemned the violence targeting people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah and expressed India’s solidarity with Australia, reiterating that India follows a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.
Bondi Beach Hanukkah Shooting: Hyderabad-Educated Sajid Akram Named as Terror Suspect, 15 Killed; Son Injured
Sajid Akram, who earned his B.Com degree in Hyderabad, moved to Australia for work in November 1998, officials said. Fifteen people were killed in a shooting during a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which Australian police have described as an Islamic State–inspired terrorist attack. Authorities said the accused were a father and son, aged 50 and 24. Akram was shot dead, while his son is undergoing treatment in hospital.
One of the suspects involved in Sunday’s mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which left 15 people dead during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, has been identified as Hyderabad-born Sajid Akram, who continued to hold an Indian passport despite migrating to Australia nearly three decades ago.
Police shot dead the 50-year-old Akram during the attack, while his 24-year-old son and co-accused, Naveed Akram, survived and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital under police custody. Australian authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State group.
Telangana Police clarified that there was no ideological or operational connection between Akram’s radicalisation and India, adding that he had long been estranged from his family in Hyderabad.
The Telangana Director General of Police said that 50-year-old Sajid Akram, a Hyderabad native, moved to Australia in November 1998 on a student visa. He had completed his B.Com in Hyderabad before leaving India for employment opportunities. Officials said Akram spent around 27 years in Australia and maintained minimal contact with his family. Senior police officers reiterated that there was no operational or ideological link between his alleged radicalisation and India.