Australian police have identified the two alleged gunmen responsible for a deadly shooting at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach as a father and his son, as the country mourns victims of its worst gun violence in nearly three decades.
Police said on Monday that the father, a 50-year-old man, was killed at the scene, bringing the death toll to 16, while his 24-year-old son remains in critical condition in hospital. The pair were identified by state broadcaster ABC and other local media outlets as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram.
Authorities described Sunday’s shooting as a targeted antisemitic attack. The incident occurred during a Hanukkah celebration held in a small park near the beach, which police said was attended by about 1,000 people.
At least 40 people remain hospitalised following the attack, including two police officers who were shot and are in serious but stable condition. Police said the victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
Witnesses reported that the shooting lasted around 10 minutes at the popular beach, which was crowded on a hot evening, prompting hundreds of people to flee across the sand and into nearby streets.
A bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the attackers during the incident has been praised for saving lives. 7News Australia identified the man as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, citing a relative who said he was shot twice and later underwent surgery. A fundraising page for him had raised more than A$350,000 by Monday afternoon.
Police declined to officially release the names of the suspects but confirmed that the father had held a firearms licence since 2015 and owned six licensed weapons. They also said videos from the scene appeared to show the attackers using a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, while his son was an Australian-born citizen.
Investigations into the attack are ongoing as authorities continue to assess security arrangements and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
