ISIS Flags Found After Deadly Sydney Shooting at Hanukkah Celebration
Australian security officials say newly uncovered evidence, including ISIS flags, has strengthened the suspected link between a deadly shooting in Sydney’s Bondi Beach and the terrorist group. The attack occurred on Sunday during Hanukkah celebrations and resulted in heavy casualties.
According to a report by state broadcaster ABC Australia, Navid Akram, one of the two attackers, had been under surveillance by security agencies for years due to connections with an ISIS cell in Sydney. Together with his father, Sajid Akram, he opened fire on participants of the religious event.
The shooting left at least 16 people dead and around 40 others injured. Sajid Akram was killed during a gunfight with police, and Navid Akram, who was wounded, was taken to hospital.
On Sunday evening, police raided the Akram family’s home in the Bonnyrigg area of southwestern Sydney. Simultaneously, investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team—comprising federal and state forces—launched an extensive investigation.
Senior security officials reported the discovery of two ISIS flags in the attackers’ vehicle, which was parked near the scene of the attack. Footage from the scene shows one of the flags displayed on the car’s hood.
A senior member of the investigative team said Navid Akram had been monitored since six years ago, following the foiling of an ISIS attack plot in Sydney. Surveillance intensified after the arrest of Ishaq Motari, a prominent ISIS member in Australia.
Available information indicates that Navid Akram had close ties to Ishaq Motari, the self-proclaimed commander of ISIS in Australia. Motari is currently serving a prison sentence for planning terrorist operations in the country.
Mike Burgess, a senior Australian security official, stated that one of the attackers had been known to security agencies but was not previously assessed as an immediate threat.
