Australia's Worst Mass Shooting: Sajid Akram, 50-Year-Old Gunman from Hyderabad, Carries Out Deadly Attack at Bondi Beach

Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old dead gunman in Australia’s Bondi beach shooting incident, was originally from the Hyderabad but had limited contact with his family in India, the Indian police officials confirmed today. The attack on Sunday was Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years, and is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Akram visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia nearly three decades ago, the police said, adding that his visits were primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents. It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise. “Sajid Akram is originally from Hyderabad . He completed his B.Com degree in Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in search of employment, approximately 27 years ago, in November 1998,” said Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy, adding that Akram had limited contact with his family in India. Akram married a European origin woman before settling permanently in Australia, the senior police official added. “They have one son, Naveed (one of the two attackers) and one daughter. Sajid Akram carries Indian passport as on date and his son Naveed Akram and daughter were born in Australia and are Australia n citizens,” the police official said. Sajid Akram was killed by he police while his 24-year-old son and alleged accomplice is in critical condition in hospital after also being shot. Akram family members in India have expressed “no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation,” Telangana state police said in a statement. The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed appear to have “no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana”, the police added. Australian police is investigating the purpose of visit by both men to the Philippines last month. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has confirmed that Akram travelled to the country on November 1 using an Indian passport while his son Naveed Akram, an Australian national, used an Australian passport. The two boarded the Philippine Airlines Flight PR212 from Sydney to Manila and onward to Davao. They departed on November 28 from Davao via Manila back to Sydney, weeks before the assault that killed 15 people. It was not conclusive they were linked to any terrorist group or whether they received training in that country, Reuters reported citing officials. The Bondi beach incident was Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years. The Indian government has not received any official notification from Australia on the matter, Bloomberg reported citing officials familiar with the issue.