Australian police have concluded that the two men responsible for the deadly mass shooting at a Jewish community event in Sydney acted independently, with no links to a wider terrorist network.
Lone Actors, Not Part of a Cell
In a significant update, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated on Tuesday that investigators found no evidence connecting the attackers to a broader terrorist cell. The two suspects, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, are alleged to have acted entirely on their own.
"There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by others to carry out an attack," Commissioner Barrett told reporters, according to the Associated Press. This announcement aims to address public speculation and concerns about wider coordinated threats following the tragedy.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
The attack occurred on December 14, 2025, the first night of Chanukah, at the "Chanukah by the Sea" celebration on Bondi Beach. The gunmen opened fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 people, killing 15 and wounding dozens more. This marks it as Australia's second-worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Police shot and killed Sajid Akram during the attack. Naveed Akram was shot in the abdomen during a gunfight and was hospitalized for a week before being transferred to prison to face charges.
Commissioner Barrett revealed that the two had spent most of November in Davao City in the southern Philippines, an area once known as a training ground for small numbers of terrorists linked to Islamic State and Al Qaida. However, Philippine authorities determined the pair rarely left their hotel. Barrett clarified, "there is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack." She added she was "not suggesting that they were there for tourism," but declined to elaborate further to avoid jeopardizing the upcoming trial.
Aftermath and Political Response
In the wake of the attack, Commissioner Barrett had previously warned against misinformation that could "fuel retribution-type incidents," emphasizing the attack represented "actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organization, not a religion."
The horrific event has sparked calls for a national inquiry, with two lawmakers from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's own party breaking ranks to demand one. Thus far, the Prime Minister has resisted these calls. Instead, his government has announced a review of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies' powers and procedures, alongside plans for sweeping gun law reforms. Some members of the Australian Jewish community have criticized the gun reform focus as a diversion from the specific issues of extremism and community safety highlighted by the attack.
The investigation continues as the community mourns, with vigils held for the victims and a nation grappling with the impact of the violence.
