Sydney Bondi Beach attacker originally from Hyderabad, radicalisation not linked to India: Telangana DGP

Sajid Akram, one of the two perpetrators behind the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Sydney, was an Indian national originally from Hyderabad, Telangana police said on Tuesday.

The Director General of Police (DGP) said that Akram migrated to Australia in 1998 in search of employment and married a woman of European origin before settling permanently in the country.

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While Akram was neutralised by the Police at the spot, his son, Naveed, the second Bondi Beach attacker, sustained critical injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

“Sajid Akram is originally from Hyderabad, India. He completed his B Com degree in Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in search of employment approximately 27 years ago, in November 1998. He subsequently married Venera Grosso, a European origin woman before settling permanently in Australia. They have one son, Naveed (one of the two attackers), and one daughter. Sajid Akram carries an Indian passport as of date, and his son, Naveed Akram, and daughter were born in Australia and are Australian citizens,” the DGP said.

The DGP Telangana said that relatives of Sajid told them that he had limited contact with his family in Hyderabad over the last 27 years.

“He visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents. It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise,” the DGP said.

The family members have denied having any knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation.

The DGP Telangana clarified that the factors that may have led to the radicalisation of the father-son duo have no connection with India or the state of Telangana.

Moreover, the Telangana Police has no adverse record against Sajid Akram during his stay in India prior to his departure in 1998.

“Telangana Police remain committed to cooperating with central agencies and other counterparts, as and when required, and urges the public and media to avoid speculation or attribution without verified facts,” the DGP added.

Earlier, Australian media reports had claimed that he was a Pakistani migrant.

At least 15 people were killed, and several others were wounded, some of them critically, after Sajid and his son Naveed opened fire at people who had gathered at Bondi Beach to celebrate the first day of the Jewish festival Hanukkah.

The Australian police declared the incident a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community. The police are also investigating Sajid and Naveed’s links to ISIS.