During afternoon hours local time on 14 December 2025, a father and son, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, carried out a mass shooting of a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, just outside Sydney. At least 16 people were killed and 40 more injured by the suspects who used legally owned firearms, including a bolt action rifle and pump shotgun. The father was shot and killed by police while the son was tackled and disarmed by a civilian.
Authorities confirmed the son had been under investigation by Australia's Security Intelligence Agency (ASIO) in 2019 for a six-month period over alleged ties to an ISIS cell. The pair reportedly rented an Airbnb near the beach to scope out the attack and had built IEDs that did not explode, raising questions about both training and funding. According to the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC), an ISIS flag was found in the suspect's vehicle.
This terrorist attack highlights ongoing concerns over the holiday season and targeting of the Jewish community specifically. There has been increased threat to the Jewish community in the last two years, driven by the ongoing campaign in Gaza and conflict between Israel and Iran. Historically frequent targets during the holidays include Christmas markets in Europe, as noted below.
Christmas Market Attacks
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Nantes, France – December 2014: A driver deliberately rammed crowds at a Christmas market, killing one and injuring about 10; French authorities treated it as a deliberate violent act in a context of heightened terror fears.
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Berlin, Germany – 19 Dec 2016: An ISIS‑inspired attacker drove a stolen truck into the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring more than 50.
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Strasbourg, France – 11 Dec 2018: A gunman opened fire near the Strasbourg Christmas market, killing 5 people and wounding 11 before being killed by police; he pledged allegiance to ISIS in a recorded message.
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Magdeburg, Germany – 20 Dec 2024: A car rammed into a crowded Christmas market, killing at least 5 people (including a child) and injuring more than 200; authorities described the suspect as acting alone, motivated by anti‑Islam and extremist views.
Analysis
As Global Guardian discussed in the latest Risk Map, Australia endured its deadliest terrorism year in 2024, with six attacks leaving eight dead and 16 wounded. Canberra raised its national terror threat level to “probable” in August 2024, and in July 2025, expelled Iran’s ambassador after intelligence linked Tehran to arson attacks on Jewish community sites in Sydney and Melbourne. This underscores the continued reach of Iranian state-linked terror networks into Western democracies.
This particular terrorist attack, while not confirmed to be linked to Iran, serves as a reminder that extremist Islamists remain a threat globally, particularly to the Jewish community in the midst of the ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza and the West Bank. Additional terror attacks are possible through the holiday season targeting Christmas markets, houses of worship, and other soft targets globally.
Recommendations
- Maintain situational awareness at all holiday gatherings in public spaces.
- Consider armed security for events that could be seen as high-value targets, such as religious gatherings and holiday celebrations.
- Establish contingencies in case of emergency, such as rally points, communications options, and evacuation plans.
STANDING BY TO Support
Global Guardian is closely monitoring the situation and can support clients who need assistance with local teams in the area to provide:
- Evacuation planning and execution
- Executive protection
- Secure transportation
- Emergency response
- Intelligence reports
- Risk assessments
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