Bondi Terror Suspects Deceived Family with Fishing Trip Excuse Before Deadly Rampage

The father-and-son duo accused of carrying out a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach informed their relatives they were heading out for a weekend fishing excursion, according to details emerging from the investigation.

Naveed Akram, 24, spoke to his mother on Sunday, claiming he and his father Sajid had gone scuba diving and swimming, and planned to eat out before returning home due to the heat. In reality, the pair had rented a room in a short-term accommodation in Campsie, where CCTV footage captured them leaving around 5:15pm in a silver hatchback, heading toward Bondi.

Less than 90 minutes later, gunfire erupted at the beach during a Hanukkah celebration, targeting Sydney’s Jewish community. The attack claimed 16 lives and left dozens injured. Sajid was fatally shot by police at the scene, while Naveed, critically wounded, is showing signs of recovery in hospital.

Police sources confirmed the Akrams traveled to the Philippines in November, raising fears of connections to Islamist extremist networks. The Australian Federal Police are probing their activities there. Authorities also discovered an Islamic State flag and improvised explosive devices in their vehicle, prompting scrutiny of ties to the terror group’s East Asia branch, designated a prohibited organization in Australia since 2017.

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Four weapons were recovered at Bondi, with two more seized from the Campsie rental. Naveed, an unemployed bricklayer born in Australia, and Sajid, a fruiterer who arrived on a student visa in 1998, lived with family in Bonnyrigg.

Naveed’s mother, Verena, expressed disbelief, describing her son as a quiet, non-violent individual who avoided alcohol, smoking, and bad influences. He enjoyed exercise, swimming, and fishing, and had recently lost his job. She highlighted his completion of Koran studies in 2022 at a western Sydney institute.

As investigations continue, the incident has sparked national discussions on security and gun laws.