Australian police allege that the two men behind the deadly attack on a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney's Bondi
By Sammy,
Australian police allege that the two men behind the deadly attack on a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney's Bondi Beach prepared for the assault days in advance, including carrying out firearms practice outside the city and scouting the beachfront location beforehand. Court documents released this week claim the attackers - a father and son - also attempted to detonate multiple improvised explosive devices during the December 14 shooting, though none of the devices exploded.
According to the police statement of facts, investigators recovered a video from one of the suspects' phones in which the pair are seen seated in front of an Islamic State flag, quoting from the Quran and outlining what authorities describe as their ideological justification for the antisemitic attack, including denunciations of "Zionists." The younger attacker, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, appeared in court via video link from a Sydney hospital after being wounded at the scene. His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was killed by police during the attack. Naveed Akram now faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and a terrorism offense, after the shooting left 15 people dead.
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.