HomeAUBondi Shooting Suspect Allegedly Influenced by Islamic State Speech, Experts Reveal Potential...

Bondi Shooting Suspect Allegedly Influenced by Islamic State Speech, Experts Reveal Potential Terror Links

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In a recently unveiled speech from 2024, ISIS’s primary spokesperson has made a chilling call to action, encouraging followers to target individuals of Jewish and Christian faith. The message implored supporters to act with extreme violence, urging them to “kill them by the worst of means.”

In a paper published in the West Point Combating Terrorism Centre, two Australian scholars believe the speech titled “And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them” was a call to arms for renewed attacks by IS supporters on Israeli and Western targets, and claim the Bondi attack carried similar themes to the ones outlined in the speech.
Naveed Akram court sketch March 17. Rocco Fazzari/AAP PHOTOS
Naveed Akram is currently before the courts after being accused of carrying out the Bondi shooting. (Rocco Fazzari/AAP Photos)
“The speech included an explicit call to arms,” the report from Andrew Zammit and Levi J. West said, adding it was reminiscent of a similar speech in 2014 that preceded a spate of Islamic terrorist attacks across Europe.

The speech aimed to galvanize sympathizers to commit acts of terrorism within their own countries. It endorsed various violent tactics, advising perpetrators to “detonate explosives” and “shoot them with bullets.” This directive was clearly designed to embolden individuals to engage in such heinous acts.

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, are accused of shooting and killing 15 people at Bondi Beach on December 14 last year, targeting a Hanukkah celebration.

During a recent incident, attackers reportedly lobbed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) towards a celebratory gathering. Fortunately, these devices failed to detonate before gunfire ensued.

The Bondi shooting was Australia’s worst ever terrorist attack. (Jessica Hromas)
Sajid was shot and killed by police, while Naveed was wounded and remains before the courts.

Experts analyzing the attack noted that several elements mirrored the directives outlined in the ISIS speech. It specifically urged followers to “pick easy targets,” aligning with the incident’s approach.

According to analysts, the speech’s explicit targeting advice was crafted to ensure that any resulting attacks would resonate with the movement’s strategic and ideological objectives. This highlights the ongoing threat posed by such extremist communications, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive countermeasures.

“[Followers were] being told to ‘target synagogues and churches over military targets… [and to] carry out daring and courageous operations targeting Jewish and Christian gatherings and neighbourhoods everywhere, especially in Crusader European countries,’” the report said, quoting some phrases from the speech.

Sajid and Naveed Akram stayed in the Philippines in November.
Sajid and Naveed Akram stayed in the Philippines in November. (Getty)

The authors believe the Bondi Massacre is a consequence of IS’ plans for resurgence in the aftermath of the war in Gaza, saying the group wanted to “remobilise its transnational support.”

“[It] took care to not let the Israel-Palestine conflict overshadow the movement’s global revolutionary goals and wider range of enemies,” they said, saying the group wanted to renew attacks in the West, with a greater emphasis on attacking Jewish targets.

The Akram’s allegiance to IS is alleged by police in its statements of facts relying upon a video they filmed in October last year, where they stand in front of an IS flag and claim responsibility for an upcoming “Bondi attack”, evidence from the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team said.

The pair also travelled to the Philippines in November just before the attacks, which is alleged to have been done in their preparations for the attack.

An article in one of the organisation’s publications also acknowledged the attack, saying the Akram’s allegedly “answered the call and carried out the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings.”

“They armed themselves with the Prophetic methodology and set off without looking back, plunging unarmoured into the Hanukkah celebration and turning it into a scene of mourning,” the article said.

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