A father and son have been identified as the gunmen who killed 15 people in Sydney. The attack took place at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. The pair opened fire on hundreds of people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
The attackers were Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed Akram, 24. They used long guns to fire from a footbridge into the crowd below. Sajid Akram, who held a recreational hunting licence, was killed by police at the scene. His Australian-born son, Naveed, was wounded and taken into custody. He is in a critical condition in hospital and is expected to face charges.
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Community in mourning
The victims of the Bondi Beach shooting ranged in age from 10 to 87. They included a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi, and a Holocaust survivor. At least 27 people remain in hospital, with several in critical condition. The attack occurred around 6:47 PM local time.
The community has responded with grief and solidarity. Vigils are being held, and mourners have left thousands of bouquets at the Bondi Pavilion. The attack has been widely condemned as an act of antisemitism.
In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to push for tougher gun laws. He stated this was a “dark day in Australia’s history”. The government will review firearm licensing and restrictions. This is despite Australia already having some of the world’s strictest gun laws. The older gunman, Sajid Akram, had legally held a firearms licence since 2015.
Amid the horror, stories of bravery have emerged. A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, was hailed as a hero after he tackled one of the gunmen and wrestled his rifle away from him. al Ahmed was shot several times during his heroic act and is recovering in hospital.
Image via Al Jazeera.
