Bondi Beach Terror Suspect Was on ASIO’s Radar for Links to Islamic Extremists: Chilling Details Emerge About Naveed Akram’s Past
- Australia’s spy agency ASIO had suspected terror suspect Naveed Akram of links to Islamic extremists in 2019 – but deemed him not a threat
- The 24-year-old was allegedly involved in the horrific Bondi Beach shooting that left 15 innocent people dead
- Naveed’s father Sajid Akram, 50, died in a shootout with police after the attack – and Naveed remains in hospital under police guard with critical injuries
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirms Naveed was investigated by ASIO in 2019, but was not placed on any watch lists
Australia is reeling from the shocking revelation that one of the suspects behind the devastating Bondi Beach terror attack was once on the radar of the country’s spy agency for potential links to Islamic extremists. Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, allegedly unleashed a horrific shooting spree during a Hanukah event on Sunday, leaving 15 innocent people dead and a nation in mourning.
As police continue to probe the backgrounds of the pair, chilling details have emerged about Naveed’s past links to extremism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed had come to the attention of ASIO in October 2019, suspected of having ties to Islamic extremists in Sydney and the notorious Al Madina Dawah Centre – a hotbed of anti-Semitic hate.
However, at the time, ASIO deemed that Naveed did not pose an ongoing threat or risk of engaging in violence. “He was examined on the basis of being associated with others, and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence,” Albanese revealed.
But in a disturbing twist, it’s understood that Naveed and his father recently travelled to the Philippines to prepare for the attack – a country notorious for its terrorist cells and Islamic State East Asia affiliate. The Philippines has been a target destination for foreign terrorist fighters, with ISEA conducting frequent and violent attacks against the government and local sectarian targets.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed that Naveed is an Australian-born citizen, while his father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa. Burke defended ASIO’s handling of Naveed’s case, saying that the spy agency constantly undergoes reviews and that he had full confidence in their work.
However, Burke acknowledged that Naveed’s ideology had changed in the years since he was first investigated by ASIO. “What happened back then was there were people who did (have extremist ideology), who were well and truly within the sights and being watched by our security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” he said.
As the investigation continues, forensic experts have been inspecting the Akram family home in southwest Sydney, where several suspects were known to have stayed. Naveed remains in hospital under police guard, with charges yet to be laid.