Chilling Details Emerge in Bondi Beach Terror Investigation
Newly released court documents have revealed disturbing details about the deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025. According to the documents, the two attackers - father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24 - first threw four homemade explosive devices into the crowd before opening fire with firearms. 'The improvised explosive devices failed to detonate, which likely prevented even greater casualties,' a police source familiar with the investigation told reporters.
Months of Preparation and IS Links
The court documents show the attack was meticulously planned over several months. The father-son duo had undergone firearms training in rural Australia and conducted reconnaissance at Bondi Beach just days before the attack. They had rented an Airbnb in Campsie where CCTV footage showed them loading weapons and explosives into their car early on the day of the attack.
Investigators found a video on one of the attackers' phones showing them sitting in front of an Islamic State flag, justifying their actions and discussing their political views. Police also discovered homemade IS flags in their vehicle, and evidence suggests Naveed had connections to a convicted IS terrorist. 'This was a planned terrorist attack with clear ideological motivations,' said New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb during a press conference.
Weapons Arsenal and Failed Explosives
The attackers had amassed an alarming arsenal including six registered firearms, three pipe bombs, a tennis ball bomb, and a larger improvised explosive device. They had also created Islamic State flags and 3D-printed shotgun parts. According to court documents reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the homemade bombs thrown at the crowd were pipe bombs that failed to detonate due to faulty construction.
The attack unfolded when the attackers displayed IS flags in their car windows before throwing the explosives and opening fire on the Hanukkah celebration crowd. Sajid Akram was killed by police during the incident, while his son Naveed was critically injured and remains under guard in hospital. He has since been charged with 15 counts of murder via video link from his hospital bed.
Swift Government Response and Gun Law Reforms
In response to the attack, the Australian government has moved quickly to tighten gun laws and counter extremism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a national cabinet within 48 hours of the attack, resulting in sweeping proposals to strengthen Australia's already strict firearm regulations.
The New South Wales government has introduced emergency legislation that would limit individuals to owning a maximum of four firearms (except for professional shooters who may own up to 10), require license renewals every two years, ban belt magazines, and eliminate appeals against police license refusals. The legislation also includes a $300 million gun buyback program. 'We must ensure such a tragedy never happens again,' said NSW Premier Chris Minns when announcing the reforms.
At the federal level, Australia is renegotiating the 1996 National Firearms Agreement, accelerating establishment of a National Firearms Register, and considering restrictions on firearm imports including 3D printing technology. The government also plans to make it easier to prosecute people who use hate speech and incite violence.
National Mourning and Community Response
On December 21, 2025, over 10,000 people gathered at Bondi Beach for a vigil honoring the victims. The 'Light Over Darkness' commemoration included Prime Minister Albanese and other dignitaries, though the Prime Minister was booed by some attendees who accused the government of failing to protect the Jewish community against rising antisemitism.
The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, and the attack has been described as Australia's worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. According to CNN's coverage, the memorial included a minute of silence at 6:47 PM - the exact time the attack began - and candle lighting for the final night of Hanukkah.
Local Jewish leader David Ossip called for a royal commission to investigate the attack, stating: 'This was not just an attack on our community, but an attack on Australian values of tolerance and multiculturalism.' The investigation continues as authorities examine the attackers' radicalization process and potential security failures that allowed them to acquire weapons despite existing regulations.