The shocking incident of gunfire that erupted on Bondi Beach, Sydney, on Sunday evening is now being viewed as a terrorist attack. Sadly, confirmation has come that 15 lives have been lost, and more than 40 individuals sustained injuries. Initially, alarming connections to the Islamic State (ISIS) emerged, heightening concerns among both Australian and international security agencies.
Sources from Australian media and investigative agencies reveal that the Joint Counter Terrorism Task Force (JCTT) is thoroughly investigating the ISIS affiliation with this onslaught. Senior officials involved believe that both assailants swore allegiance to ISIS before executing the attack.
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The attackers' car allegedly contained two black ISIS flags, one visible on the hood, as evidenced in the video footage from the scene.
According to authorities in New South Wales, the attack coincided with a Jewish community event in the Bondi Beach area, leading to suspicions of it being a targeted terrorist attack. Police have also confirmed the recovery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the site, though these explosives are reported to be technically crude.
An Attacker Under Surveillance for 6 Years
A pivotal figure in this attack is 24-year-old Naveed Akram. Australia’s intelligence agency, ASIO, investigated Naveed Akram nearly six years ago, suspecting his close associations with an ISIS-linked terrorist network active in Sydney. According to ABC reports, ASIO began monitoring him in 2019 after the arrest of ISIS terrorist Isak el-Matari.
Isak el-Matari, who claimed to be the ISIS commander in Australia, is currently serving a seven-year sentence. Investigators state that Naveed Akram had connections not only with Matari but also with other members of the ISIS cell later convicted of terrorist activities.
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Following the attack, during police action, Naveed Akram was severely injured and is currently hospitalized under police watch. Meanwhile, his father lost his life in a police encounter. Subsequently, a massive police force raided their Bonnyrigg, Sydney residence, and an Airbnb property in Campsie where the assailants had been residing.
Understanding the Terror Intent: Ongoing Investigation
ASIO's Director-General Mike Burgess has acknowledged that one of the attackers was already on the agency’s radar; however, he clarified that he was not categorized as an immediate threat. He stated that it will now be investigated where the lapse occurred.
Currently, police have confirmed that there are no ongoing searches for additional suspects. However, investigations into the motives, network, and international terrorism links are proceeding rigorously. Security has been significantly ramped up in Bondi Beach and its surrounding areas, with high alert declared across Australia. This attack starkly illustrates that despite ISIS's weakening, its ideological and network-based threat remains far from eradicated.
