Key Takeaways
- Naveed and Sajid Akram, a father-son duo, allegedly used an isolated property in NSW’s Southern Tablelands for tactical training before carrying out Australia’s worst terror attack.
- The property, located about an hour from Goulburn, features several structures, including a caravan, a small transportable building, and a shipping container, which appear to be equipped for long-term stays.
- Satellite images and photographs released by the Local Court of NSW show the Akrams shooting near these structures, with a rainwater tank and an outdoor toilet located nearby.
- The Akrams allegedly told the landowner they were friends, rather than father and son, and were given access to the property to shoot feral animals.
- The police facts sheet outlines the case against Naveed Akram, stating that the father and son had amassed an arsenal of six firearms, including two single-barrel shotguns.
Introduction to the Incident
The isolated backblocks of NSW’s Southern Tablelands are known for their ability to conceal and protect those who seek refuge. However, for Naveed and Sajid Akram, this isolation provided an opportunity to hone their skills and allegedly prepare for Australia’s worst terror attack. The father-son duo traveled to an isolated property in the area in late October and undertook what police say was tactical training as part of their preparation for the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injured dozens.
Investigation and Evidence
Using satellite images and photographs released by the Local Court of NSW, investigators have tracked the Akrams to the property, revealing a major part of the pair’s alleged planning in the months before the Bondi Beach massacre. Exclusive images of the property show the Akrams shooting near several structures, including a caravan, a small transportable building, and a shipping container, which appear to be equipped for long-term stays. A rainwater tank and an outdoor toilet are located near the structures, indicating that the property was likely used for extended periods.
Verification of the Location
Several sources provided information to verify the location where the court-released images were captured, on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns. The images of the father and son, among few seen of the pair before the attack, were contained in a police facts sheet made public after media outlets advocated for its release. The images were taken from videos allegedly found on the father and son’s phones, which police seized in the hours after the attack. The videos show the pair "firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner" during firearms training they allegedly conducted on the property.
Police Investigation and Search
Police searched the property where the Akrams allegedly trained in the days after the December 14 massacre and were expected to return for a second search. It is unclear if anything linked to the Akrams was found at the property during the initial search. In October, a local farmer briefly crossed paths with the Akrams when they were visiting the property, weeks before they visited the Philippines. They were polite and said little, giving no indication of their alleged plans.
The Akrams’ Alleged Planning
The image of Naveed Akram, also released by the court, shows the 24-year-old firing a similar shotgun to the one used by his father. Matching the trees on the ridge behind Naveed Akram with those captured in images of the property, investigators have verified that the 24-year-old was standing in a similar location to his father when he was filmed firing his weapon. Both Tree B and Tree C are identifiable in images compared with the court-released photograph of Naveed Akram by their distinctive foliage.
The Property and Its Owners
The location where the Akrams allegedly trained was one of several lots sold by a developer more than a decade ago after a larger property was subdivided. Several landowners use a shared track on the property, which is accessed via a padlocked gate. The Akrams told the owner of the plot they allegedly trained on that they were friends, rather than father and son, and were given access to the sprawling block in October to shoot feral animals. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the landowner, who has cooperated with police.
The Aftermath and Calls for a Royal Commission
The attack has led to calls for a royal commission into the rise of antisemitism in Australia and the failings that led to the mass killing. Naveed Akram will return to court in April, facing 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act. As authorities continue to piece together the Akrams’ movements in the months and years before the massacre, the community is left to grapple with the consequences of the attack and the need for greater understanding and action to prevent such incidents in the future.