How the Bondi Beach Mass Shooting Unfolded: A Timeline of Australia’s Deadliest Attack in Decades

Australia is grappling with shock and grief after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach left 15 people dead and dozens injured, marking the country’s deadliest gun attack in decades. Authorities have officially declared the December 14 incident a terrorist attack, carried out during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

Using police allegations, CCTV evidence, witness accounts, and official statements, investigators have reconstructed how the attack unfolded.

Who Were the Accused?

Police allege the attack was carried out by Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50.

Naveed Akram, an Australian-born citizen, is accused of acting alongside his father in a coordinated shooting targeting crowds gathered for Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

Early Red Flags: Intelligence History

According to Australian authorities, Naveed Akram first came to the attention of intelligence agencies in 2019, when he was a teenager allegedly associating with supporters of the Islamic State group in Sydney.

At the time, officials said he was not assessed as an immediate threat and later fell off intelligence radars. Two of his known associates were later jailed on terrorism-related charges.

Alleged Training and Weapons Preparation

Police allege that video footage recovered from Naveed’s mobile phone shows the father and son training with firearms in late October.

The footage reportedly depicts:

• Tactical movement drills
• Firing shotguns in rural areas, possibly in New South Wales
• Posing with firearms and ammunition in front of Islamic State flags

Authorities say these videos form a key part of the terrorism investigation.

Airbnb Stay and Overseas Travel

Investigators say Naveed booked a room in a Campsie Airbnb in southwest Sydney from December 2 to December 21.

Before the attack, Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly travelled to the Philippines, staying nearly a month in Davao City. Philippine authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to establish their movements and contacts during the visit.

Reconnaissance Near Bondi Beach

CCTV footage from December 12, two days before the attack, allegedly shows the pair parking near Bondi Beach at around 9:20 pm, walking to the same footbridge later used during the shooting.

Police believe this was a reconnaissance mission to plan the attack.

December 14: The Day of the Attack

Early Morning Movements

At 2:16 am, CCTV allegedly captured the suspects leaving the Airbnb and loading weapons hidden under blankets into a Hyundai Elantra registered to Naveed.

Police say the weapons included:

• Two single-barrel shotguns
• A Beretta rifle
• Three pipe bombs
• One tennis-ball bomb
• One larger explosive device
• Islamic State flags

The pair later returned to their accommodation.

Journey to Bondi Beach

At 5:09 pm, CCTV footage shows the suspects leaving the Airbnb and driving toward Bondi Beach. By 6:50 pm, the vehicle was parked near Campbell Parade, close to a footbridge overlooking the festival area.

Police allege Islamic State flags were placed inside the car’s windscreens.

The Shooting Begins

According to investigators:

• Explosive devices were thrown toward the crowd but failed to detonate
• Moments later, the suspects opened fire from the footbridge

Thousands of beachgoers fled in panic as shots rang out across the area.

Chaos and Courage Amid the Attack

Off-duty lifeguards ran across the sand to pull children to safety. Restaurants, churches and shops opened their doors to shelter people fleeing gunfire.

One shopkeeper, Ahmed Al Ahmed, confronted Sajid Akram during the attack. In a moment captured on video, he tackled the gunman from behind and wrestled the firearm away. Ahmed was later found to have been shot twice.

Police Response and Neutralisation

Armed police arrived roughly 10 minutes after the shooting began.

According to authorities:

• Sajid Akram was killed in a gunfight with police
• Naveed Akram continued firing until he was shot in the abdomen
• Naveed survived and has been charged with terrorism offences and 15 counts of murder

Witnesses reportedly cheered as the shooting stopped.

Aftermath and Official Declaration

Emergency sirens filled the beachfront as CPR was administered to victims. One witness described the scene as resembling a “war zone.”

At 9:36 pm, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns officially declared the attack a terrorist incident. Authorities confirmed the next morning that 15 people had been killed.

Australia in Mourning

The attack has triggered nationwide mourning, renewed debates on extremism, and heightened security at religious and public events across Australia.

Investigations are ongoing, with authorities examining digital evidence, overseas links, and possible support networks.

Related Topics:
Australia News | Terrorism | Bondi Beach | Public Safety | Global Security

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