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Bondi beach shooters had links to Hyderabad: What we know about them so far

According to information available with relatives in Hyderabad, he had limited contact with his family in India during the past 27 years. Sajid visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia.

A family reacts during a menorah lighting ceremony at a floral memorial for victims of Sunday's shooting, at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)A family reacts during a menorah lighting ceremony at a floral memorial for victims of Sunday's shooting, at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo)

Telangana Police have confirmed that Sajid Akram — one of the shooters involved in Australia’s Bondi Beach terror attack — is from Hyderabad, India. Telangana DGP B. Shivdhar Reddy told The Indian Express that Sajid Akram, 50, completed his B.Com in Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in November 1998 after marrying a woman of European origin.

Sajid is learnt to have visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia.

“Telangana Police has no adverse record against Sajid Akram during his stay in India prior to his departure in 1998. Telangana Police remain committed to cooperating with central agencies and other counterparts,” Reddy said, adding that the factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram have “no connection with India”.

Meanwhile, the Akrams arrived in the Philippines together on November 1 from Sydney, said Dana Sandoval, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. The men left the country on November 28, flying to Sydney via Manila, Sandoval added.

Fifteen people were killed in a mass shooting terror attack that occurred on December 14, 2025, at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a Hanukkah (“Chanukah by the Sea”) celebration — one of the first major Jewish community gatherings of the festival. Two gunmen, identified as Akram and his son Naveed, were identified as the shooters.

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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