The terrorist organisation Islamic State has publicly praised the father and son accused of carrying out the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach last Sunday, hailing them as "lions" and a "source of pride". In a chilling statement, the group also encouraged its followers to launch future attacks on Australian soil.
ISIS Glorifies Alleged Attackers
In its weekly bulletin, Al-Naba, disseminated via Telegram on Friday, the extremist group applauded the actions of Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50. The pair are accused of opening fire into a crowd of Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah, an attack that left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and more than 40 injured.
The bulletin referred to the Akrams as "lions" and stated that "the zealous ones answered the call". While it stopped short of formally claiming responsibility for the massacre, it strongly suggested the attackers were "inspired" by its teachings. The group warned that more violence was to come, particularly targeting holidays and public gatherings.
"If you imprison your Muslims... then do not be surprised if the season of holidays [is] soaked in blood," the statement read.
Ongoing Police Investigation and Links to Extremism
The praise from ISIS comes as New South Wales Police continue to probe the attackers' links to Islamic extremism. Explosives and homemade Islamic State flags were discovered in a car registered to Naveed Akram at the scene.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated earlier this week that initial investigations indicated the attack was 'inspired by ISIS'. A key line of inquiry is the pair's one-month trip to the Philippines in November, with their final destination being Davao City in Mindanao, a region known as a hotbed for Islamic militant activity.
Authorities also revealed the alleged attackers filmed an ISIS-style propaganda video at their rented Airbnb in Campsie before the shooting, expressing extremist views.
Further Arrests in Sydney
In a separate but related development, a group of men was apprehended in southwest Sydney on Thursday afternoon. Heavily-armed tactical officers intercepted two cars and made the arrests in Liverpool as part of a counter-terrorism operation.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson confirmed the men, who had travelled from Victoria, were known to police and shared an extremist ideology. "We have some indication that Bondi was one of the locations they might be visiting," he told 702 ABC Radio Sydney on Friday.
However, police have not yet identified a direct connection between this group and the ongoing Bondi terror investigation. The motive for their travel remains unclear.
The combined events have heightened security concerns across Australia, with intelligence agencies actively monitoring the threat of further attacks inspired by overseas terrorist propaganda.
