Chilling video footage has emerged showing the precise moment a police officer made a heroic and critically accurate shot to stop the gunmen responsible for Australia's deadliest mass shooting in three decades.
The Horrific Attack at Bondi Beach
The tragic incident unfolded at around 6.50pm on Sunday, 14 December, at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. A father and son duo, identified as Sajid and Naveed Akram, allegedly opened fire on a Jewish community gathered for a Hanukkah celebration. The attack left 15 people dead, including a child as young as 10, and dozens more injured.
The Officer's Critical Intervention
The widely circulated video depicts a brave officer from New South Wales (NSW) Police stealthily approaching the assailants from behind. He is seen taking cover behind a tree before aiming and firing towards the footbridge where the attack began. The footage shows the elder alleged attacker, Sajid Akram, collapsing after being hit.
His son, Naveed, reportedly returned fire before he was also shot and critically wounded. NSW Police have not yet named the officer involved but, according to reports, senior figures have hailed the decisive shot as a "once in a lifetime" achievement, praising the detective's swift action and exceptional marksmanship. The officer is believed to have 15 years of service with the force.
Investigation and Political Response
At a press conference on Tuesday 16 December, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon revealed that a vehicle left at the beach contained two homemade Islamic State group flags and improvised explosive devices. The crime scene remained cordoned off until the afternoon of Wednesday 17 December.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the atrocity, labelling it "an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of antisemitism". He stated that evidence suggests the attackers were motivated by Islamic State ideology but operated alone.
The state Premier strongly defended the police response, highlighting that two officers were in critical care in hospital after being shot. "They weren't shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front," the Premier said, urging the public not to rush to judgment and to respect the officers' actions.
Investigations into the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in 30 years are ongoing as the community reels from the devastating attack.
