Watch the moment a man stops a gunman on Bondi Beach
An unarmed man has wrested a gunman’s weapon from a gunman at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach.
Two suspects who attacked a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14 had traveled to the Philippines before the attack, which killed 15 people, and appeared to be inspired by Islamic State, police said.
The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly 30 years and is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Australia has strict gun laws and firearm-related violence is relatively rare.
Authorities identified one of the gunmen as Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot and killed by police. His 24-year-old son and alleged accomplice, Naveed Akram, was also shot and remains in critical condition in hospital.
Australian police said both men traveled to the Philippines for “military training” last month, and the trip is currently under investigation. The Philippine National Police said it was also investigating the matter. Networks affiliated with the Islamic State are known to be active in the Philippines and exercise some influence in the southern Philippines.
“Early indications point to an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack, allegedly carried out by a father and son,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissy Barrett told a news conference.
“These are the alleged acts of people who are affiliated with terrorist organizations, not religions.”
A father and son are believed to have opened fire on hundreds of people attending a festival in a 10-minute murder spree at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. Police said the vehicle registered to the young man was loaded with an improvised explosive device and two handmade flags linked to the Islamic State group, an extremist group listed as a terrorist organization by Australia and many other countries.
The victims include a Holocaust survivor, a 10-year-old girl and a British-born rabbi.
Officials said about 25 survivors were being treated at various Sydney hospitals.
Olivia Robertson, 25, visited the monument before work.
“This is the country that our grandparents came to to make us feel safe and give us opportunities,” she said.
“And now this happened in our backyard. It’s pretty shocking.”
Contributed by: Reuters
