Indian Police Say Bondi Beach Gunman’s Family Had No Knowledge of His Radicalisation

Post by : Saif Nasser

Indian police have said that the family of Sajid Akram, the man identified as one of the gunmen in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Australia, had no knowledge of his radical beliefs or activities. Officials also stressed that there is no evidence linking his radicalisation to India or to any local influence in his home state of Telangana.

The shooting took place on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney. It has been described as Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years. Authorities are treating the attack as an act of terrorism aimed at the Jewish community. Sixteen people lost their lives in the attack, including Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police.

According to Australian police, Sajid Akram was 50 years old and had moved to Australia in 1998. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was also involved in the attack and is believed to be an accomplice. Naveed was shot by police and remains in critical condition in hospital.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Telangana state police said Sajid Akram originally came from Hyderabad but had very limited contact with his family in India. Family members told police they were completely unaware of any extremist thinking or plans. They also said they had no idea about the events that may have led to his radicalisation.

Indian police confirmed that Sajid Akram had visited India six times since settling in Australia. These visits were mainly for family reasons. Officials said there was no criminal or negative record against him during his time in India, either before he migrated or during later visits.

Australian authorities also revealed that both Sajid and his son had travelled to the Philippines last month. Sajid travelled on an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian passport. The purpose of this trip is still under investigation. Officials said it is not yet clear whether the two had any links to extremist groups or received any form of training during their travels.

Telangana police made it clear that, based on current findings, the radicalisation of the two men does not appear to have any connection to India. They said there is no evidence of local influence, support, or involvement from Hyderabad or anywhere else in the state.

This clarification comes at a time when such attacks often raise concerns about international links and cross-border extremism. Indian authorities have stressed the importance of facts and careful investigation to avoid unfair blame on families or communities.

As investigations continue in Australia, Indian police say they will cooperate fully if more information is needed. For now, officials have underlined that the gunman’s family in India had no role, no prior knowledge, and no warning signs of the violence that later unfolded thousands of kilometres away.