Australia investigates possible links between Bondi beach terrorists and ISIS operatives

Australian intelligence officials estimate that the father and son who carried out Sunday's massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, were in contact with ISIS operatives in the country, according to a report by ABC Australia.

Australia’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) believes that Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed at the scene, and Naveed Akram, 24, who was wounded while being subdued, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

It was further reported that two ISIS flags were found in the attackers’ car at Bondi Beach; one of the flags can be seen in footage from the scene, placed on the hood of the vehicle.

Australian intelligence sources said that Navid Akram had close ties to an ISIS cell commander in Australia, a man named Matari, who is serving a prison sentence for planning an attack in the country. The father, Sajid Akram, had held a firearms license for the past 10 years, and six different rifles belonging to him were found at the scene.

Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998 and, according to Australian sources, was born in Pakistan.

His son, Naveed, is an Australian citizen born in the country. In 2019, ASIO (the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) conducted an assessment of Navid due to suspected ties with hostile elements, but concluded that there was no indication he posed a risk of engaging in violence.

By contrast, Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported overnight that Israeli intelligence officials assess the massacre was carried out by a foreign terror cell supported by Iran.

According to the report, the planning and execution of the attack points to characteristics associated with a Hezbollah unit—the organization’s external operations arm.

Israel is also examining possible links to Hamas and other organizations, but Australian authorities have not yet confirmed any foreign involvement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government would devote all necessary resources to responding to the attack. Albanese did not address accusations by Israeli officials regarding his government’s inaction, but said that “this is a time of national mourning, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

He also announced that national flags would be lowered to half-mast as a sign of mourning.

Albanese convened the Australian government today “to respond to the terrorist and antisemitic act in Bondi last night.”

During the meeting, he announced that the government would consider tightening gun laws and reviewing firearms licenses over time. Among the measures under consideration is limiting the number of firearms that individuals may use or hold licenses for. “We stand with Australian Jews and we stand against hatred and violence,” Albanese added. “Australia is stronger than those who seek to divide us, and we will get through this together.”

A spokesperson for the Australian police, said that law enforcement agencies have launched a protection operation aimed at ensuring the security of the Jewish community, and that more than 300 police officers have been deployed at houses of worship and in neighborhoods with Jewish populations.

Meanwhile, Kan News reported last Sunday night that Israel had conveyed several warnings to Australia about a growing Iranian motivation to target Jews in the country following Operation “Rising Lion.” According to the alerts, the Iranians had even established “extensive terror infrastructures” in Australia for the purpose of carrying out attacks. However, the warnings passed on by the Mossad were not specific. According to Israeli security sources, the Australians took the warnings seriously and increased security around Jewish institutions.

So far, the names of four of the 16 who were killed have been released: Reuven Morrison, a member of the Chabad community who lived in Melbourne and Sydney; Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who attended the event with his children and grandchildren; Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger; and Dan Elkayam, a young French-Jewish man.

Written by KAN 11 News correspondents Itamar Vishenko, Roi Kais,Moav Vardi and Dov Gil-Har.