Buziness Bytes Desk – Australian police have identified the two gunmen behind the deadly shooting at a public Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach as a father and son from Pakistan, according to U.S. intelligence officials briefed on the matter and cited by CBS News.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening during “Chanukah by the Sea,” a crowded celebration attended largely by members of Sydney’s Jewish community. Police said gunfire erupted without warning, forcing people to flee the beach and nearby streets. Sixteen people were killed at the scene, including one of the attackers.
Authorities said the 50-year-old father was shot dead by police during the response. His 24-year-old son, identified as Naveed Akram, was taken to hospital in critical condition and remains under police guard. Police confirmed no other attackers were involved and classified the shooting as a terrorist attack.
Mal Lanyon, the New South Wales Police Commissioner, said on Monday that investigators had made significant progress overnight and were no longer searching for additional suspects. He said police also located two improvised explosive devices near the scene, which were later made safe by specialist officers.
Lanyon said officers executed search warrants at two properties in the western Sydney suburbs of Bonnyrigg and Campsie as part of the investigation. He confirmed that the deceased attacker was a licensed firearms holder who had held a gun licence for about 10 years and had six firearms registered in his name.
“It is believed those six firearms were also used in the offences on Bondi Beach,” Lanyon said, adding that investigators would examine how the weapons were accessed and used.
Police declined to comment on reports that an ISIS flag was found at the scene or on whether the suspects were previously known to authorities. Lanyon said determining the motive would be a key focus of the investigation.
Two New South Wales police officers injured during the response remain in hospital. Police said they will maintain a heightened presence at places of worship in the coming days.
