Key Takeaways
- A father-son pair, Sajid and Naveed Akram, allegedly planned and carried out a terrorist attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, resulting in 15 deaths and dozens of injuries.
- The attackers allegedly filmed an Islamic State-inspired video, made pipe bombs, and trained with firearms in the months leading up to the attack.
- The pair traveled to the Philippines in November and stayed in a hotel in Davao City, with their movements still under investigation.
- On the day of the attack, the pair allegedly conducted a reconnaissance visit to the area, carried out the attack, and were subsequently apprehended by police.
Introduction to the Terrorist Attack
The terrorist attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, 2025, was a meticulously planned and executed act of violence that resulted in the loss of 15 lives and left dozens more injured. According to court documents, the alleged attackers, Sajid and Naveed Akram, had been planning the attack for many months, filming an Islamic State-inspired video, making pipe bombs, and training with firearms in a rural setting in New South Wales.
The Lead-Up to the Attack
In October 2025, Naveed Akram allegedly recorded a video in which he and his father, Sajid, sat in front of an image of the Islamic State flag, with Naveed reciting a passage from the Qur’an in Arabic. The video also showed the pair making statements in English about why they planned to commit the attack. Another clip, also recorded in October, allegedly showed the father and son training with firearms in a rural setting, firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner.
Travel and Reconnaissance
On November 1, 2025, Sajid and Naveed Akram arrived in the Philippines and stayed in a hotel in Davao City until November 28. Their movements during this time are still under investigation. On December 12, 2025, the pair allegedly traveled to the car park near Archer Park at Bondi, with CCTV footage capturing them walking along the footbridge. This was reportedly a reconnaissance visit to the area.
The Day of the Attack
On December 14, 2025, CCTV footage allegedly showed Naveed and his father leaving an Airbnb property in Campsie at 2:16 am, carrying long and bulky items wrapped in blankets, which were later revealed to be firearms and homemade explosive devices. The pair then returned to the property and later left again at 5:09 pm, driving towards Bondi. At around 6:50 pm, the pair allegedly began their attack on the Chanukah by the Sea 2025 event at Archer Park, resulting in 15 deaths and dozens of injuries.
Aftermath and Investigation
Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram was taken to hospital with critical injuries and later charged with 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist attack. Police later searched the family home in Bonnyrigg, seizing a number of items, including a homemade firearm, a longbow with 12 arrows, and a copy of the Qur’an with passages highlighted. The next day, police searched the Campsie premises, finding a rifle, a shotgun, and bomb-making equipment.
Conclusion
The terrorist attack on the Jewish event at Bondi Beach in Sydney was a devastating act of violence that resulted in the loss of many lives. The alleged attackers, Sajid and Naveed Akram, had been planning the attack for many months, and their actions were inspired by Islamic State ideology. The investigation into the attack is ongoing, with police still working to piece together the events leading up to the attack and the motivations of the attackers.