Sydney – The Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooting incident that shocked Australia on December 14 has revealed a complex story of a Hyderabad-born man whose ties to India had virtually severed over nearly three decades. Telangana Police issued a comprehensive statement on Tuesday detailing the limited connection the 50-year-old perpetrator maintained with his homeland, highlighting that he did not even return to India following his father’s death.
The 50-year-old Sajid Akram Bondi Beach attacker originally hailed from Hyderabad, where he completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree before departing for Australia in November 1998. According to Telangana Police, he continued to hold an Indian passport despite spending 27 years abroad, during which his contact with relatives in Hyderabad remained minimal.
Limited Connections to Homeland
Telangana Police emphasized that the Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooter had remarkably sparse interactions with his family over the past 27 years. During this extended period, he visited India only six times, with these trips primarily focused on property-related matters and visiting his elderly parents rather than maintaining familial bonds.
“It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise,” the police statement revealed, underscoring the extent of his disconnection from his roots. This detail has become significant as investigators across multiple countries attempt to piece together the timeline and motivations behind the deadly attack.
The Deadly Attack Details
The Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooting unfolded during a Hanukkah event attended by Jewish community members. Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram opened fire on the gathering, resulting in 15 immediate fatalities and injuries to at least 42 others. The violence ended when police shot and killed Sajid Akram during the encounter, bringing the total death toll to 16. Naveed Akram survived and remains hospitalized under police guard.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the incident as a targeted terrorist attack motivated by Islamic State ideology, marking it as one of the most severe terror incidents in recent Australian history.
Life in Australia and Family
After settling in Australia, the Sajid Akram Bondi Beach perpetrator married a woman of European origin and established a new family. The couple had two children—a son and a daughter—both of whom are Australian citizens. This new family unit appeared to represent a complete departure from his Indian heritage and previous life in Hyderabad.
Telangana Police noted that family members remaining in India expressed complete ignorance regarding any radical mindset or activities that might have influenced the Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooter. They claimed no knowledge of circumstances that could have led to his radicalization or that of his son.
Pre-Attack Travel Patterns
The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration confirmed that the Sajid Akram Bondi Beach attacker was an Indian national and Australian resident who traveled to the Philippines shortly before the deadly incident. Dana Sandoval, a bureau spokesperson, confirmed that both father and son arrived together from Sydney on November 1, 2025, reported Davao as their final destination, and departed on November 28 for their return journey to Sydney.
This travel to Davao in Mindanao has drawn particular attention from investigators, as the region has a documented history of Islamic State-linked activity. Australian officials have indicated that this trip forms a crucial component of their ongoing investigation into the attack’s planning and execution.
No Indian Connection to Radicalization
Telangana Police firmly stated that factors leading to the radicalization of the Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooter and his son appear to have no connection with India or any local influence within Telangana. The statement emphasized that there was no adverse record against him during his residence in India before his 1998 departure.
“The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son Naveed appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana,” the official statement clarified, distancing the attack from any potential Indian involvement or influence.
Ongoing Investigation
The Sajid Akram Bondi Beach shooting has prompted extensive investigations across multiple jurisdictions, with agencies in Australia, India, and the Philippines cooperating to understand the full scope of the attack. Authorities continue examining the father and son’s activities, travel patterns, and potential connections to extremist networks that may have influenced their actions.
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the global nature of terrorism and the challenges authorities face in preventing such attacks, particularly when perpetrators maintain minimal ties to their countries of origin while becoming radicalized abroad.
