Australian authorities have classified the massacre on Sydney's Bondi Beach as a terrorist attack inspired by the ideology of ISIS (recognized as terrorism and banned in Russia), and one of the key pieces of evidence were the group's flags found on the perpetrator's car, the Associated Press reported.
The Hanukkah mass shooting at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach was a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State group, federal police commissioner Chrissie Barrett said Tuesday, AP News reported.
The suspects include father and son Sajid Akram, 50 years old, and his 24-year-old son. Sajid Akram died on the spot and his son is currently in hospital.
“The suspected killers seemed only interested in the number of victims, not their age or health,” Barrett said at a news conference.
Local authorities officially confirmed that the attack was linked to the ideology of the Islamic State: homemade flags of the group and explosive devices were found in a car seized after the incident. In total, 15 people from 10 to 87 years old became victims of the shooting, another 25 people are in hospital, 10 of them are in serious condition.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that a new wave of tightening controls on legal guns would begin. The decision was taken after it was revealed that Sajid Akram was in possession of six weapons legally. After the tragedy, many turned to the authorities to question the adequacy of protecting the Jewish community amid growing anti-Israel sentiment.
Among the victims was Syrian fruit grower Ahmed al Ahmed. A video of him, in which he neutralizes an armed criminal, went viral around the world.
“He is a true Australian hero,” Albanese said after visiting Al Ahmed in hospital, adding that the act further demonstrated the power of community solidarity.
Bondi Beach's lifeguards and ordinary citizens were also praised for their dedication in pulling people from the water, providing first aid and getting them to safety during the riots. Within a few days, kilometer-long lines formed at the site of the tragedy to donate blood: as the Lifeblood organization said, in just one day, almost 1.3 thousand new people appeared in the ranks of blood donors, and the total number of people registered for appointments exceeded 50 thousand.
Local and religious leaders, including former Prime Minister John Howard and Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amit Maimon, visited Bondi Beach to express their condolences.
“My heart is broken: the Jewish community is my community and I grieve with everyone,” Maymon said.
Previously it was known that Russians residing in Australia were victims of the terrorist attack in Sydney.
One of the suspects, Naveed Akram, 24, is said to have trained at the Al-Murad Islamic Center, which is affiliated with other Muslim organizations in Australia.
Russia condemns the brutal terrorist attack in Australia.
Meanwhile, members of the Jewish community in Bondi expressed outrage that Australian authorities have not taken adequate measures to protect against anti-Semitic attacks.
