Bondi Beach Attacker Previously Investigated for IS Links

Australian Security Services Knew About Attacker's Extremist Ties

One of the gunmen responsible for Australia's deadliest terrorist attack in decades had been investigated by domestic intelligence services six years earlier for suspected links to Islamic State (IS), according to revelations from Australian security sources. The 24-year-old attacker, identified as Naveed Akram, came to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2019 following a foiled IS plot, but was not considered an immediate threat at the time.

The devastating attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, claimed 16 lives including a 10-year-old child and the 50-year-old father of the shooting duo, Sajid Akram. Forty-two people were injured in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident motivated by antisemitism, targeting a Jewish community Hanukkah celebration at one of Australia's most iconic beach locations.

IS Flag Found in Attackers' Vehicle

Investigators discovered an IS flag in the vehicle used by the father-son attackers, confirming their allegiance to the terrorist organization. 'The unit investigating the attack assumes the perpetrators had sworn allegiance to the terrorist group,' reported ABC News citing sources within an anti-terrorism unit.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess confirmed that one of the attackers was 'known to the security service' but declined to specify which individual had been investigated in 2019. Burgess emphasized that there was 'no immediate threat' identified at the time of the initial investigation.

Connection to Convicted IS Commander

The younger attacker reportedly had close ties to convicted IS terrorist Isaak El Matari, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for plotting an IS uprising in Australia. El Matari had declared himself the Australian commander of IS and was part of a terrorist cell that included several men convicted of terrorism offenses. According to intelligence sources, these individuals also had connections to the 24-year-old Bondi Beach attacker.

The attack represents Australia's deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and the most lethal terrorist incident in the nation's history. Wikipedia records indicate this was the second-deadliest mass shooting in Australian history.

Gun Law Reforms Proposed After Attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans for Australia's toughest gun law reforms since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The 50-year-old attacker legally held licenses for six firearms found at his home, which he was permitted to use for sport shooting, recreational hunting, and pest control. He was also a member of a shooting club.

'The circumstances of people can change. People can radicalize over time,' Albanese stated, announcing his intention to propose limits on the number of firearms individuals can register and implement regular license checks. 'Licenses should not be in perpetuity.'

The proposed reforms, detailed by ABC News, would build upon Australia's existing strict gun laws established after the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has indicated support for tightening gun licensing laws, questioning why non-farmers need 'weapons of mass destruction' on city streets.

Victims Included Holocaust Survivor

Among the victims was a rabbi who had organized the Hanukkah celebration and a man who had survived the Holocaust, according to his wife speaking to reporters outside the hospital. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that a French national was among those killed, while Israel's Foreign Ministry reported that one victim also held Israeli citizenship.

The attack occurred at approximately 6:30 PM local time when the gunmen opened fire from a bridge into the crowd gathered at Archer Park playground for the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event. A heroic bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, reportedly disarmed one of the gunmen by tackling him from behind.

National Mourning and Security Review

Flags across Australia have been flown at half-mast as the nation mourns what Prime Minister Albanese described as 'a dark day' in Australian history. The attack has prompted multiple investigations, including one led by the police counter-terrorism command and another examining the police shooting of the attackers.

The incident has raised serious questions about Australia's security apparatus and firearm licensing procedures. Despite Australia's reputation for strict gun control following the 1996 reforms, the number of legally held firearms has risen to approximately 4 million, exceeding pre-1996 levels according to Channel News Asia.

ASIO's 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, available through Intelligence.gov.au, had warned of a worsening security environment with increased communal violence expected. Director-General Burgess had previously expressed concern about nationalist and racist violent extremists attempting to 'mainstream' their movements through provocative acts.

The Bondi Beach attack has shocked Australia and the international community, highlighting the persistent threat of terrorism and the challenges of monitoring individuals who may radicalize over time despite previous security investigations.