Australian police have identified the attackers behind the Sydney Bondi Beach massacre as a father and son, according to local media reports.
As per The Sydney Morning Herald, 24-year-old Naveed Akram was apprehended at the scene and taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard in a critical but stable condition. His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead at the scene during the exchange of fire with police.
Media reports said the father and son were of Pakistani origin.
When police surrounded the family’s home in Bonnyrigg, Naveed Akram’s mother, Verena, told reporters that her son was an unemployed bricklayer and had last spoken to her on Sunday morning, just hours before the attack.
“He rang me up and said, ‘Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We’re going to eat now and then stay home because it’s very hot,’” Verena was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Describing her son, she insisted he did not fit the profile of a violent offender.
“He doesn’t have a firearm. He doesn’t even go out. He doesn’t mix around with friends. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places. He goes to work, he comes home, he goes to exercise — and that’s it,” she said.
“Anyone would wish to have a son like my son. He’s a good boy.”
The deadly shooting occurred when two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach as thousands of people had gathered for the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
Police said multiple officers exchanged fire with the attackers, during which two officers — a constable and a probationary constable — were shot.
Initially, 14 people, including the 50-year-old shooter, were declared dead at the scene. Forty-two others, including four children and the 24-year-old shooter, were rushed to hospitals across Sydney.
Police later confirmed that two additional victims — a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man — died in hospital, taking the total death toll to 16.
The victims have not yet been formally identified, though police believe their ages range from 10 to 87 years.
As of the latest update, six people remain in critical condition, while 27 others are in serious or stable condition. Both injured police officers are reported to be serious but stable.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM has formally declared the incident terror-related, as investigations into the motive continue.
