Bondi Beach shooting latest: Suspect who ‘pledged allegiance to Islamic State’ had terror link probed before attack
Ten-year-old girl was among those killed in attack at Hanukkah celebration
One of the gunmen involved in the Bondi Beach mass shooting had previously been investigated over his links to a Sydney-based Islamic State terrorism cell, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has said.
Naveed Akram, 24, had been investigated for six months in 2019, by ASIO, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, according to ABC. It found no evidence that he had planned or considered planning any act of violence.
Counter terrorism police believe Akram and his father, Sajid, 50, had pledged allegiance to the terror group, according to the broadcaster. Two Isis flags were reportedly found in their car.
At least 15 people were killed in an antisemitic terrorist attack at an event called Chanukah by the Sea on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, police have said.
Sajid Akram is thought to have been killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
A ten-year-old girl who was taken to the Sydney Children’s Hospital after the attack is among those who have died. At least 40 people are receiving treatment in hospital, including three other children.
Albanese has said there is “no evidence” that the pair are linked to Isis and acted as lone agents.
UK stands 'ready to help Australia' in wake of Bondi terror attacks
The UK stands ready to help Australia if needed in the wake of the Bondi beach shooting over the weekend, the prime minister has said.
His official spokesperson said Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, adding: “Clearly we have a very close relationship with the Australian government and we stand ready to help if needs be, but I think this is an operational matter for the Australian authorities.”
It is understood the two leaders did not speak on the phone, but exchanged messages in the wake of the attack.
Over $1.5m raised for Bondi 'hero' as he recovers in hospital
Fundraisers set up for fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed have raised over $1.5m (£1.12m) collectively after he disarmed a gunman bearing a rifle during a mass shooting.
The 43-year-old father-of-two was seen tackling one of the men to the ground and wrestling his weapon away from him during the attack.
“What we've seen in the last 24 hours was the worst of humanity in a terrorist act. But we also saw an example of the best of humanity in Ahmed Al Ahmed running towards danger, putting his own life at risk,” Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese told state broadcaster ABC News.
Slovak woman killed in mass shooting, says president
A woman from Slovakia has been confirmed to be among the 15 victims killed in the terror attack.
“Already yesterday, I unequivocally condemned the brutal, deadly attack... Today, that grief has reached Slovakia as well — among the victims of this senseless, violent rampage was a Slovak woman, Marika,” Slovak president Peter Pellegrini wrote on X/Twitter on Monday.
Map: Terror attacks took place at world-famous beach
The terror attacks took place on Bondi Beach, a world-famous strip known for its golden sand.
It is one of Sydney’s hot spots for both tourists and locals.
According to the New South Wales government, over 880,000 domestic visitors frequented the location in 2022.
Jewish community of Bondi mourns in aftermath of terror attack
Police release image of officer injured in Bondi terror attack
New South Wales police have released an image of an officer who was injured during the Bondi attacks over the weekend.
Constable Scott Dyson was seriously injured but remains in a stable condition in hospital.
A second unnamed officer was also injured during the incident.
Cricketer Michael Vaughan 'locked away' in pub 300 yards from attack
Former England captain and cricketer Michael Vaughan has recounted the “surreal” experience of being 300 yards from the Bondi attacks that killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old child.
“Yesterday was a surreal day that I don't really want to go through again,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I'm deeply saddened by everything that has gone on.
“To be 300 yards away, in a pub locked away, scary times.
“I look at Bondi and Sydney in particular - it's like my second home. Australia is an amazing country, and it's probably one of the countries in the whole world where I always say it's the safest. It's the safest place.”
Pig heads placed on Muslim graves after Bondi attacks
The decapitated heads of pigs have been scattered across Muslim graves at a Western Sydney graveyard, according to reports.
Ahmad Hraichie, known on Instagram as The Muslim Undertaker, shared the graphic images of the animal heads to his social media calling the action “pure stupidity”.
“This is not the way,” he said.
The incident is said to have taken place at the Narellan Cemetery.
“To whoever did this: you have proven nothing except hatred,” he said. “You are not a solution to any problem—you are part of the problem.”
'No evidence' suspects linked to extremist cell, says Australian PM
Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that two gunmen suspected of killing 15 people at a Hannukah celebration were not part of a wider terrorist cell and were acting alone.
“There's no evidence of collusion, no evidence that these people were part of a cell,” he told ABC.
However, he said that the father and son were “clearly” motivated by an “extremist ideology”.
He added that the 24-year-old shooter named as Naveed Akram, was not part of a counter terrorism watchlist. He had been investigated in 2019 over connections to two people who were later jailed.
The inquiry found no evidence he had planned or considered planning any act of violence, Albanese said.
Full story: Ahmed al Ahmed: Fruit shop owner who tackled terrorist is a ‘hero of Australia’, parents say
The father of a fruit shop owner who tackled one of the Bondi Beach gunmen has described his son as a “hero of Australia”.
Ahmed al Ahmed, a father-of-two from Sydney, was seen tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him, during an antisemitic terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.
Video footage of Mr Ahmed intervening circulated widely on social media following the attack. His father said it shows the 43-year-old’s impulse to protect people.
Speaking to ABC Australia through a translator, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed said: “His friend told him, ‘Let’s go have coffee at Bondi’.
Dan Haygarth reports:
