Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old student from Lahore, Pakistan, has been identified by authorities as one of the gunmen involved in the devastating Bondi Beach shooting, an event now classified as a terrorist attack. His background and affiliations are a focal point of the investigation.
Evidence suggests Akram was a student at Sydney’s al-Murad Institute. Online, images have surfaced showing him in a Pakistan cricket shirt, possibly from official identification. It is also understood that he had previously attended universities in Pakistan and Australia.
Law enforcement has stated that Akram was one of the two individuals who opened fire on Bondi Beach, resulting in a tragic loss of at least 12 lives and significant injuries to others. Police reports indicate one attacker was shot dead at the site, while the second was critically wounded and transported to a hospital.
Police executed a search warrant at Akram’s Sydney residence in Bonnyrigg on Sunday evening as the investigation intensifies. The New South Wales Police Commissioner has confirmed the attack’s designation as terrorism, noting the incident occurred near a “Chanukah by the Sea” event attended by a large crowd around 6:30 p.m.
The beach was reportedly busy with families and visitors when the shooting began. Eyewitness accounts detail the eruption of continuous gunfire, causing immense panic and a chaotic rush for safety amongst the attendees.