Sydney [Australia], December 16: A father and son who opened fire on a Jewish festival at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday appear to have been driven by "Islamic State ideology," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.
Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio that the two perpetrators of the fatal mass shooting that targeted an event celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah acted alone to commit a "terrorist act."
"We are certainly reaching out to Five Eyes partners, our security partners internationally as well, to see precisely if there are any links there," Albanese said.
The perpetrators of the shooting were identified on Monday as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram.
Albanese on Monday confirmed local media reports that Naveed Akram was in 2019 investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) over suspected ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State terrorism cell.
On Tuesday, Albanese told ABC radio that ASIO interviewed Naveed Akram and his family members, but that he has not been subjected to ongoing monitoring.
Albanese said that the attack on Sunday night was clearly well planned, describing it as calculated and meticulous.
Authorities have confirmed that 16 people ranging in age from 10 to 87 years old have died following the attack, including Sajid Akram. Albanese said on Monday night that Naveed Akram was in a coma in hospital.
As of Tuesday morning, there were 25 people receiving ongoing care in hospitals across Sydney for their injuries, 10 of whom were either critical or critical but stable.
Source: Xinhua
