Bondi gunmen ‘meticulously’ planned attack for months, ‘tennis ball bomb’ failed to detonate: Australian police
The documents stated that the two suspected gunmen, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, recorded footage of their training in order to justify their meticulously planned attack.
Security officers gather near a gate at Bondi Beach in Sydney ahead of a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors from the Bondi shooting on Dec. 14. (AP Photo)
The two suspected gunmen involved in the Bondi Beach shooting incident in Sydney which killed 15 people last week planned the attack “meticulously” for months and practised the shooting weeks before the start of the fatal incident in an area of New South Wales state outside of Sydney, according to Australian police documents released on Monday.
The documents stated that the two suspected gunmen, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, recorded footage of their training in order to justify their meticulously planned attack. Sajid, 50, who was the father of Naveed was shot dead by the police at the scene, while Naveed, 24, received abdominal injury and made a video court appearance from a Sydney hospital on Monday.
Naveed Akram was placed on a “known entity management list” in about 2021. (Photo: Video screengrab)
At least 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured after Sajid and Naveed opened fire at a crowd gathered at Bondi Beach to celebrate Jewish festival Hanukkah on December 14. The documents revealed that explosives, including a “tennis ball bomb” failed to detonate.
Among other devices found, police said three aluminum pipe bombs, gunpowder and steel ball bearings were found. None of the devices detonated but the police described them as “viable” IEDs.
Naveed has been charged with 59 offences which includes 15 counts of murder and one of terror. The state authorities later confirmed that Naveed was transferred from hospital to a prison but the administration didn’t provide details or identification of the prison where he is being held.
The documents released show footage of the two men sitting in front of an image of an Islamic State group (IS) flag. “Naveed Akram is also recorded appearing to recite, in Arabic, a passage from the Quran,” the documents stated.
Police also released images of gunmen shooting from a nearby bridge which provided them an elevation to the vantage point at Bondi Beach.
“The accused and his father, S Akram, are seen to exit the vehicle and walk along the footbridge, being the same position where they attended two days later and shot at members of the public,” the document noted.
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Security officers gather near a gate at Bondi Beach in Sydney ahead of a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors from the Bondi shooting on Dec. 14. (AP Photo) 
