Bundai attack: The perpetrators' links to ISIS and intelligence investigations
In a notable development in the investigation into the terrorist attack that rocked Sydney, Australian media reports revealed a possible security breach, as it turned out that one of the perpetrators Bondi attack had been known to intelligence agencies for several years, raising serious questions about the mechanisms for assessing security risks.
Details of the relationship with the terrorist organization ISIS
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), citing senior counter-terrorism sources, reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) had conducted an extensive investigation six years ago into possible links between one of the attackers and the Islamic State terrorist group. The report indicates that the son, Naveed Akram, 24, who is currently hospitalized under heavy guard, had been under security surveillance since 2019.
Suspicions deepened after it emerged that Naveed believed he had a close connection to a member of the terrorist organization arrested in July 2019, who was later convicted of planning terrorist attacks on Australian soil. This connection reinforces the hypothesis that his radicalization was not a sudden occurrence, but rather the result of a long process of exposure to extremist ideologies.
Physical evidence and premeditation
In a related development concerning forensic evidence, senior officials confirmed the discovery of two ISIS flags inside the gunmen's vehicle, which was parked near the beach. Investigators indicate that the father, Sajid Akram (50 years old), and his son had pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization before carrying out the attack, lending a clear ideological dimension to the crime that targeted innocent civilians.
The Hanukkah Massacre: Context and Event
This revelation comes as Australia is still reeling from Sunday's attack, in which two gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on Hanukkah revelers at the popular Bondi Beach. The massacre left 15 people dead and more than 40 others with injuries of varying severity before police neutralized the father in a shootout.
Intelligence: “It was known, but…”
In the first official statement clarifying the security authorities' position, Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), stated that one of the gunmen "was known to the agency." However, Burgess explained that the security assessment at the time did not classify him as an "immediate threat" warranting urgent preemptive action.
“It’s clear we need a thorough review of the circumstances of what happened here,” Burgess told reporters, implicitly suggesting a need to reconsider the criteria for assessing individuals under surveillance. New South Wales Police remained cautious, stating they could not confirm the details of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s report at this time, while the intelligence service declined to comment on ongoing investigations.
Expected security repercussions
This incident is expected to prompt a comprehensive review of Australia’s counter-terrorism strategies, particularly regarding the monitoring of “lone wolves” or individuals who have previously appeared on security radars and then disappeared. It also highlights the continued threat posed by ISIS and its ability to exert influence remotely, necessitating more robust international and domestic cooperation to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
