Bondi Beach shooters trained “tactically” before deadly attack, police say

According to the Australian police, the father and son accused in the Bondi Beach shooting had acquired tactical training of firearms before carrying out the attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. 

The documents released by court on Monday stated that Sajid Akram aged 50 and his 24-year-old son Naveed practiced with shotguns and rehearsed “tactical” movements while recording a video in October showing their rage against “Zionists” in front of an Islamic State flag. 

On December 14th, they attempted to throw an explosive device on the Jewish crowd that failed to explode. After which, they started shooting into the crowd, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene while Naveed was wounded, later transferred from hospital to jail in non-bailable offences of murder and terrorism.

According to the investigation, the suspects would conduct inspection of Bondi Beach, during night time, days before the attack and had been planning it for months.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, apologized to the Jewish community. He also promised a new hate-speech legislation, and announced a ‘comprehensive’ gun buyback scheme, the largest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. 

In New South Wales, lawmakers are actively working on state’s new reforms; which include limits on gun ownership and bans on public display of terrorist symbols. Restrictions are also to be placed on protests in the aftermath of terrorism incidents.