Tragedy at Bondi Beach: 15 Killed in Hanukkah Terror Attack
A meticulously planned terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney resulted in 15 deaths, dozens of injuries, and a complex legal case that continues to unfold.
On December 14, 2025, a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach became the scene of Australia's worst terrorist attack in years. The incident, designated a terrorist act by police, involved two perpetrators and left a community in mourning.
Incident Overview
Time and Location
The Hanukkah celebration, known as Chanukah by the Sea, was held at Archer Park adjacent to Bondi Beach. The event commenced at 17:00 local time, with police receiving the initial alert at approximately 18:47.
Perpetrators
Two individuals were identified as the perpetrators:
- Sajid Akram, aged 50, died at the scene during an exchange of gunfire with police.
- Naveed Akram, aged 24, was critically injured by police gunfire and subsequently charged.
Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad, India, migrating to Australia in 1998. According to Indian police officials, he had no criminal record in India and maintained limited contact with his family there, who stated they were unaware of any radical views or activities.
Timeline of Events
Pre-Attack Planning and Preparation
October 2025: Court documents allege that video footage found on Naveed Akram's phone shows the two men conducting firearms training with shotguns in rural New South Wales, moving "in a tactical manner."
Late October 2025: The Akrams allegedly traveled to an isolated property in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, which police allege was used for tactical training. The landowner reported they requested access to shoot feral animals and is cooperating with police, with no indication of wrongdoing.
November 2025: The father and son reportedly spent a month in the Philippines. Authorities have found no evidence they received military-style training there. Detectives from NSW Police were deployed to the Philippines as part of the investigation.
Two days before the attack: CCTV footage reportedly shows the Akrams driving to Bondi Beach and conducting reconnaissance, walking along the same footbridge later used in the attack.
Hours before the attack: CCTV allegedly captured the Akrams leaving rented accommodation in Campsie, Sydney, carrying "long and bulky items wrapped in blankets." Police allege these items were three firearms, homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and two Islamic State flags.
The Attack
According to verified video analysis, the following sequence occurred:
-
The Akrams drove to Bondi Beach and parked their vehicle. Two hand-painted ISIS flags were reportedly displayed in the vehicle's windows.
-
The men removed firearms and bombs from the vehicle and proceeded towards a pedestrian footbridge overlooking Archer Park.
-
As they approached the bridge, police allege they threw three homemade pipe bombs and a "tennis ball bomb" into the crowd. The devices did not detonate but were assessed as "viable." A fifth device was later found in their vehicle.
-
Naveed Akram remained on the footbridge and opened fire. Sajid Akram moved into the park on foot, also firing a weapon. The attack lasted approximately six minutes.
-
Intervention: A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, disarmed Sajid Akram by wrestling the firearm from him. Ahmed sustained two gunshot wounds. After being disarmed, Sajid Akram returned to the bridge and resumed firing with another weapon.
-
Police Response: Police officers arrived at the scene and engaged the gunmen. Analysis by independent experts identified a previously unreported 9-millimeter gunshot at 6:45:17 PM, consistent with a police handgun, indicating an earlier police engagement than initially reported.
-
Conclusion: The gun battle involved 108 gunshots: 61 from Naveed Akram, 21 from Sajid Akram, and 26 from police officers. Sajid Akram was fatally shot. Naveed Akram was shot twice and incapacitated.
Casualties
- Fatalities: 15 people died, including a 10-year-old girl. The victims included Boris and Sofia Gurman, who attempted to disarm Sajid Akram, and Reuven Morrison, who confronted him. Morrison later died from his injuries.
- Injuries: Dozens of people were injured. Fifty-five people were reportedly shot. As of the most recent reports, 20 individuals remained hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
Investigation
Terrorist Designation and Motivation
"The attack appears to have been motivated by Islamic State group ideology." — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
- NSW Police officially designated the event as a terrorist incident.
- Police allege that a video found on Naveed Akram's phone shows the men in front of an Islamic State group flag, with Naveed Akram reciting an Arabic passage from the Quran and condemning "Zionists."
- A report by counterterrorism experts Andrew Zammit and Levi West (published by the West Point Combating Terrorism Center) found that the attack aligns with mobilization themes and targeting advice promoted by the Islamic State, particularly a January 2024 speech by spokesperson Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari. The report notes the speech called for attacks on Jewish and Christian gatherings.
- Investigators have found no evidence that the Akrams were part of a broader terrorist cell or received direct orders from the Islamic State group.
Pre-Attack Intelligence
- Naveed Akram was previously on an ASIO terror watch list. He was questioned by the agency in 2019 due to his association with a street preaching group in Bankstown. At that time, he was not assessed as a significant threat.
- Despite his son's flagged status, Sajid Akram legally owned six firearms.
- Two classified inquiries concluded that the Australian Federal Police and ASIO did not act negligently or fail to act on intelligence that could have prevented the attack.
- ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess stated that the Akrams demonstrated a high level of security awareness, "went dark" to avoid detection, and that intelligence was not ignored. He acknowledged ASIO's limitations in preventing every act of terrorism.
Court Documents
Police allegations detailed in court documents include:
- The attack was "meticulously planned" over several months.
- The motivation was a "violent extremist ideology" connected to the Islamic State group.
- Four undetonated explosive devices were thrown at the start of the attack.
- A video manifesto allegedly recorded in October shows the Akrams in front of an Islamic State flag, detailing their motivations.
- CCTV footage shows reconnaissance and preparation activities.
- An arsenal of six firearms, including two single-barrel shotguns, had been acquired.
Legal Proceedings
Naveed Akram's Charges and Status
Charges: Naveed Akram faces 59 charges, including:
- 15 counts of murder
- 1 count of committing a terrorist act
- 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder
- 1 charge of public display of a prohibited terrorist organization symbol
Court Appearances: Akram has appeared in court via video link from Goulburn Supermax prison, where he is held in a high-risk management unit. He has not yet entered a plea.
Next Hearing: The case is scheduled to return to court on April 8, 2026.
Requests for Identity Suppression of Naveed Akram's Family
Application: Akram's legal team sought a 40-year suppression order to prevent publication of the names and addresses of his mother, brother, and sister, citing death threats, harassment, and safety concerns.
Evidence of Threats: The family reported multiple incidents, including death threats, abusive messages, vandalism (eggs, pork thrown at property), and individuals visiting their home late at night.
Opposition: Media organizations including News Corp, Nine newspapers, The Guardian, and the ABC opposed the application, arguing there was no evidence of imminent risk and that much of the information was already public.
Court Ruling: Judge Hugh Donnelly of the Downing Centre Local Court rejected the application. He ruled that suppression orders were not necessary, noting that an image of Akram's driver's license containing the home address had already been widely circulated. The judge also noted that the family's mother had given a media interview. He concluded the order would be ineffective and could not be enforced against international media. The decision was not appealed.
Sajid Akram's Remains
Sajid Akram's body was signed over to the NSW Government after his wife declined to take possession of the remains.
Related Incident
A separate incident occurred on March 22, 2026, when a 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly mimicking firing gestures at people near a pedestrian bridge on Campbell Parade, close to the location of the December 14 attack. He was taken to Maroubra police station for questioning.