Lagatar24 Desk
Sydney: A day after the deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, the family of the alleged attackers remains in disbelief. While 50-year-old Sajid Akram was shot dead by police after reportedly opening fire on a crowd of nearly 1,000 people, his 24-year-old son Naveed, seen armed at the scene, has been taken into custody. Despite overwhelming evidence circulating online, Naveed’s mother Verena insists her son could not have been involved in such violence.
Mother Denies Son’s Role Despite Viral Images
Verena recounted that Sajid and Naveed had gone on what she believed was a weekend fishing trip to Jervis Bay. She told The Sydney Morning Herald that Naveed called her the day before the attack, saying he had been scuba diving and planned a quiet evening due to the heat. Viral photos showing Naveed holding a firearm have not convinced her otherwise.
“Naveed doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places… he goes to work, comes home, exercises. Anyone would wish to have a son like my son,” she said, calling him a “good boy.” Naveed had been unemployed for months after losing his bricklaying job, while his father owned a fruit shop. The family lived together in western Sydney.
Attack Leaves 15 Dead; Motive Under Investigation
The assault, described by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as an act of “pure evil,” resulted in 15 deaths, including a 10-year-old child. Witnesses said the father-son pair used long-barrelled guns to fire on people gathered along a raised boardwalk, continuing for nearly ten minutes before police shot Sajid dead at the scene.
Investigators are working to determine the motive, including whether the act was driven by extremist ideology or personal circumstances. Albanese emphasised that the event was a clear act of terrorism and antisemitism, drawing national and international condemnation.
