One of the two gunmen, Sajid Akram, accused of shooting 15 people during a public Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, was originally from India and had migrated to Australia more than three decades ago, Telangana Police revealed on Tuesday. His accomplice, Naveed, continues to be in hospital, having been critically injured after being shot on the fateful day.
Sajid, 50, who was shot dead on Sunday by New South Wales police, belonged to Hyderabad and had migrated to Australia 27 years ago. “Sajid is originally from Hyderabad. He had completed his B.Com degree from Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in search of employment, approximately 27 years ago, in November 1998,” a police statement read.
Akram has had limited contact with his family since then. Sajid was married to a woman of European origin before settling down permanently in Australia. They had two children, a son, Naveed, and a daughter.
The Telangana police also stated that while Akram visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia–primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and to meet his elderly parents–it is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise.
His extended family in Hyderabad has expressed no knowledge of his radical mind-set or activities or of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation.
Prior to his move to Australia, there was no adverse record against Sajid Akram.
Meanwhile, Australia’s federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said on Tuesday that the shooting was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State”. The Philippine immigration officials also confirmed that Sajid Akram had travelled to the Philippines on an Indian passport in November, along with his son Naveed.
“Sajid Akram, 50, Indian national, and Naveed Akram, 24, Australian national, arrived in the Philippines together on November 1, 2025, from Sydney, Australia,” the country’s Bureau of Immigration spokesperson, Dana Sandoval, said in Manila on Tuesday.
Also Read: Bondi Beach attackers trained in Philippines, police confirm
Follow us
