A deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, has shocked the global community, leaving 15 people dead. As investigations progress, authorities have confirmed that the suspects involved in the attack, a father and son duo, had links with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Police recovered two ISIS flags from the suspects’ vehicle and seized two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the scene.
During a police operation following the attack, the prime accused Sajid Akram (50) was killed in retaliatory firing, while his son Naveed Akram sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. Investigators revealed that Naveed had close connections with an ISIS operative arrested in Australia in 2019 for plotting a terror attack. He had also been under the surveillance of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), though officials said he was not assessed as a high-risk threat at the time. The investigation remains ongoing.
The incident has renewed focus on the rise of anti-Jewish incidents in Australia, particularly following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza. Protests against Israel were reported across several countries, including Australia. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, nearly 1,600 anti-Jewish incidents were recorded in Australia within a year, indicating a sharp increase in hostility.
Australia is home to over 120,000 Jews, mainly residing in Sydney and Melbourne. While early Jewish settlers faced limited overt hostility, social discrimination existed for decades. In recent years, anti-Jewish sentiment has intensified, with attacks on synagogues, vandalism of cemeteries, and boycott calls being reported. Following the latest shooting and the confirmation of ISIS links, concerns have grown over escalating extremist violence. Meanwhile, remarks by senior Hamas leader Mohammad Nazzal, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for fueling global violence, have sparked controversy, with warnings that similar attacks could occur worldwide if tensions persist.