The latest information on the massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney: At least 15 dead and dozens injured / The two attackers were father and son
Sydney's Bondi Beach after the Hanukkah attack. Photo: DAVID GRAY / AFP / Profimedia
The two men who killed 15 people at a Jewish holiday on Sydney's Bondi Beach were father and son, police said on Monday, as Australia reeled from its worst gun attack in nearly 30 years, according to Reuters.
The 50-year-old father was killed at the scene, bringing the death toll to 16, while his 24-year-old son is in a critical condition in hospital, police said at a news conference on Monday.
The father and son were identified as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, respectively, by public broadcaster ABC and other local publications.
Officials described Sunday's gun attack as a targeted anti-Semitic attack.
Forty people are still in hospital following the attack, including two police officers who are in serious but stable condition, according to authorities. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
Witnesses said the attack on the famous beach, which was crowded on a very hot evening, lasted about 10 minutes and hundreds of people fled across the sand and into nearby streets.
Police said about 1,000 people were attending the Hanukkah event, which was held in a small park near the beach.
Fundraiser for Hero Ahmed
A bystander who was filmed restraining and disarming a gunman during the attack is being hailed as a hero whose actions saved lives. 7News Australia said his name was Ahmed al Ahmed, with the information coming from a relative who said the 43-year-old fruit shop owner was shot twice and underwent surgery.
A fundraising page for the man had raised more than A$350,000 (US$233,000) by Monday afternoon (local time).
Police did not release the names of the attackers, but said the father held a gun permit from 2015 and had six licensed guns.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, while his son is an Australian citizen.
Police did not provide details about the firearms, but video footage from the scene shows the men firing what appears to be a shotgun and a shotgun.
“We are working hard to verify the background of both individuals. At this point, we know very little about them,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told the media.
