By Comfort Asemota
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced a review of the country’s police and intelligence agencies following the deadly shooting at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which left 15 people dead.
Speaking on Sunday, December 21, Albanese said the government would examine whether security agencies have the necessary powers, structures, and information-sharing protocols to effectively protect Australians.
A father and son, accused of carrying out the attack, allegedly opened fire on families attending the event. Authorities say the incident was inspired by Islamic State ideology.
“The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday highlights the rapidly evolving security environment in our nation,” Albanese said. “Our security agencies must be fully equipped to respond.”
The alleged gunman, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, an Australian-born citizen, remains hospitalized under police guard and faces multiple charges, including terrorism-related offences and 15 counts of murder.
Authorities revealed that Naveed Akram had previously been investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2019 for possible radicalisation, but was assessed at the time as not posing a threat. His father, also questioned during the review, later obtained a legal gun licence permitting him to own six firearms.
In the weeks prior to the attack, the pair had returned to Sydney after spending four weeks in the southern Philippines, a trip now under investigation by authorities in both countries. Albanese noted that the radicalisation of the suspects remains under investigation and emphasized that they were not previously identified as persons of interest, making the attack especially shocking.
Philippine authorities stated there is no evidence the country was being used to train extremists. Hotel staff in Davao City reported that the men largely stayed in their room during their 28-day visit, venturing out only briefly. CCTV footage showed the father visiting a gun shop during the trip.
Criminologist Clarke Jones of the Australian National University described the case as “very unusual,” noting that attacks involving a father and son as co-perpetrators are rare. He suggested that earlier intervention programs might have prevented the tragedy.
The review ordered by Prime Minister Albanese will focus on intelligence assessments, monitoring procedures, and whether prior actions could have averted one of the deadliest terror attacks in Australia’s recent history.
