EXCLUSIVE: ‘Lone Wolf’ Father and Son Duo Behind Australia’s Worst Terror Attack – But Chilling New Evidence Reveals Their Sinister Motivations
- Police believe Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, acted alone in the deadly Channukah by the Sea attack that claimed 15 lives
- The pair were allegedly influenced by extremist Islamic ideologies and had recently returned from a trip to the Philippines
- Chilling footage on Naveed’s phone shows the duo reciting a passage from the Quran and condemning ‘Zionists’ before the attack
In a shocking revelation, police have confirmed that the father and son duo behind Australia’s worst terror attack were not part of a broader terrorist cell. Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed allegedly claimed the lives of 15 innocent people as they opened fire on a Channukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach on December 14.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there is nothing to suggest the pair were part of a larger group, despite their alleged ties to extremist Islamic ideologies. “The initial assessment from the Philippine National Police is that the individuals rarely left their hotel and there is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack,” Barrett said.
But in a chilling twist, footage allegedly located on Naveed’s phone shows the pair sitting in front of an image of an IS flag alongside four long-arm firearms and ammunition. They appear to recite a passage from the Quran and make a number of statements regarding their motivation for the ‘Bondi attack’ and condemning the acts of ‘Zionists’, police allege.
“The accused and Sajid recite their political and religious views and appear to summarise their justification for the Bondi terrorist attack,” police said in a statement. The footage is just one piece of evidence that will be used in the case against Naveed, who is facing 59 offences in relation to the attack.
The investigation into the pair’s past will also be part of an independent review of Australia’s intelligence community and federal law enforcement in the lead up to the attack. Led by former Secretary of the Department of Defence Dennis Richardson AC, the review will investigate what could have been done to stop the alleged attack and how best to prevent potential attacks in the future.
NSW Police allege Naveed had been planning the shooting for months alongside his father – who was shot and killed during the attack. The allegations are part of police prosecutors’ case against Naveed, who is expected to face trial in the coming months.