The gunmen who allegedly carried out a deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last week threw four undetonated explosives at the start of the attack, including a 'tennis ball bomb', according to newly released documents. Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences including 15 counts of murder over the attack at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. Akram, who was shot by police during the attack, was released from hospital on Monday and transferred to a prison. The second alleged gunman, his father Sajid Akram, was shot dead.
The pair recorded a video manifesto in October in which they sit in front of the Islamic State group flag, according to police documents. The Akrams 'meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months', police alleged. Videos found on Naveed's phone showed the pair were motivated by 'violent extremist ideology' linked to the Islamic State group. They include one video in which the pair sit in front of an Islamic State flag and detail their motivation for the Bondi attack and condemn 'the acts of 'Zionists', police alleged. Naveed also appears to recite a passage from the Quran in Arabic in the video.
CCTV recorded at Bondi beach two days ahead of the attack also showed the Akrams driving to the area and carrying out reconnaissance, police alleged. '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,' police wrote. Police said they found several firearms, homemade explosives, and two Islamic State flags in their vehicle. After carrying out the attack, three homemade bombs, including the tennis ball bomb, were thrown towards the crowd but did not detonate. Naveed Akram did not attend a recent court appearance due to his injuries.
The pair recorded a video manifesto in October in which they sit in front of the Islamic State group flag, according to police documents. The Akrams 'meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months', police alleged. Videos found on Naveed's phone showed the pair were motivated by 'violent extremist ideology' linked to the Islamic State group. They include one video in which the pair sit in front of an Islamic State flag and detail their motivation for the Bondi attack and condemn 'the acts of 'Zionists', police alleged. Naveed also appears to recite a passage from the Quran in Arabic in the video.
CCTV recorded at Bondi beach two days ahead of the attack also showed the Akrams driving to the area and carrying out reconnaissance, police alleged. '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,' police wrote. Police said they found several firearms, homemade explosives, and two Islamic State flags in their vehicle. After carrying out the attack, three homemade bombs, including the tennis ball bomb, were thrown towards the crowd but did not detonate. Naveed Akram did not attend a recent court appearance due to his injuries.
