Who were the shooters in attack at Australia’s Bondi Beach? What we know
- - Who were the shooters in attack at Australia’s Bondi Beach? What we know
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY December 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
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A father and son duo are suspected of having fired long weapons at a crowd of beachgoers, killing more than a dozen during a celebration on the first day of Hanukkah on Australia's Bondi Beach.
The two are accused of opening fire on nearly 1,000 people at a holiday party on a popular beach on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The shooter, identified as the father, died after police shot him on the scene.
The man's son remained clinging to life on Monday, Dec. 15.
The attack left at least 15 others dead and dozens wounded.
For up to 20 minutes on Sunday evening, the gunmen unleashed a barrage of bullets on men, women and children as terrified beachgoers fled, the New South Wales Police Force reported.
People pay respects at Bondi Pavilion to victims of a shooting during a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 15, 2025.
Nearly 40 people were taken to hospital, including two police officers and four children, one of whom later died from her wounds. The victims' ages ranged between 10 and 87, police wrote in an update on the department's website.
Authorities investigating the mass shooting dubbed the attack an act of antisemitic "terrorism."
Here's what we know so far about the two suspected shooters in the horrific mass shooting.
1 / 16At least 16 killed in Bondi Beach "terrorist" attack in AustraliaHealth workers move a woman on a stretcher to an ambulance after a shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Dec.14, 2025. Australian police said two people were in custody following reports of multiple gunshots on December 14 at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach, urging the public to take shelter.
Bondi Beach shooting victims: What we know about the victims in the Austrialian mass shooting
Who was the gunman fatally shot by Australian police?
Police identified the gunman killed as a 50-year-old man, and said he was shot by police and died on the scene.
NSW police spokesperson Jo Elliott told USA TODAY officials had not yet released the suspects' names.
"Police are satisfied the two men were the only ones involved in the attack," Elliott said Monday.
Although officials did not name the father, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other media, including the BBC identified him as Sajid Akram. Akram had previously been investigated for ties to the Islamic State, according to The Independent. Two flags of the militant group Islamic State were also found in the gunmen's vehicle, the ABC reported.
The father was a licensed firearm holder under Australian law for 10 years, police reported. He and his son allegedly used long-arm weapons in the crime.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the father, who was dressed in black alongside his son during the shooting, was part of a gun club and licensed for six firearms.
Two improvised explosive devices were found at the scene, which Lanyon said were "found to be active" before they were seized and deactivated by authorities.
Health workers move a woman on a stretcher to an ambulance after a shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Dec.14, 2025. Australian police said two people were in custody following reports of multiple gunshots on December 14 at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach, urging the public to take shelter.
A man pays his respects at Bondi Pavilion to victims of a shooting during a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 15, 2025.Alleged Bondi Beach shooter remains in the hospital
Police identified the second shooter as the man's 24-year-old son.
The son, officials reported, suffered "critical injuries" in the shooting and was taken to a hospital under police guard.
Multiple media outlets named the son as Naveed Akram.
Police have not specified what type of injuries the suspected second shooter suffered.
A screengrab from a video shows a man tackle one of the alleged gunman at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.Motive in Bondi Beach shooting
Officials have not released a motive in the attack.
Police inspect at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Dec. 15, 2025. Towels, bags and baby strollers littered Sydney's Bondi Beach -- the harrowing aftermath of the country's worst mass shooting in years.
The case remained under investigation by police on Monday, Nov. 15.
Contributing: Reuters
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who were the gunmen in Australia mass shooting? Who is Sajid Akram?
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