Sajid Akram, one of the two suspected shooters in the Bondi Beach attack, was a native of Hyderabad who emigrated to Australia in 1998 and held an Indian passport, the Telangana Police has said in a statement.
Sajid Akram, one of the two suspected shooters in the Bondi Beach attack, was a native of Hyderabad who emigrated to Australia in 1998 and held an Indian passport, the Telangana Police has said in a statement.
The Australian government has identified two suspects in the Bondi Beach attack as 50-year-old Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said their attack that killed at least 16 people and injured 40 was inspired by Islamic State’s ideology.
In a statement, the Telangana Police on Tuesday said that Akram was originally from Hyderabad who emigrated to Australia in November 1998 in search of job. It said that he married Venera Grosso, a European woman.
Even as they and settled permanently in Australia, Akram continued to hold an Indian passport, the police said.
“They have one son, Naveed (one of the two attackers) and one daughter. Sajid Akram carries Indian passport as on date and his son Naveed Akram and daughter were born in Australia and are Australian citizens,” the police said in a statement.
Akram had limited contact with his family in Hyderabad since 1998 and visited India on only six occasions, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents, the statement read.
Even as the Australian government has said Akram was inspired by the Islamic State ideology to carry out the attack, the police said his family members in India expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities or of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation.
The police concluded that Akram’s radiation does not appear to be rooted in India.
“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. Telangana Police has no adverse record against Sajid Akram during his stay in India prior to his departure in 1998,” the statement read.
This is a developing story.
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