ASIO examined Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram in 2019 for close ties to Islamic State cell
Australia's domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, examined one of the Bondi Beach gunmen six years ago over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell, the ABC understands.
The ABC understands investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), a unit comprised of state and federal agencies, believe the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group.
Two IS flags were found in their car at Bondi Beach, according to senior officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
One flag could be seen in footage from the scene on the bonnet of the car.A senior JCTT official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ASIO took an interest in Naveed Akram six years ago after police foiled plans for an IS terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Naveed Akram first came to ASIO's attention in October 2019 and was under investigation for a period of six months but there was an assessment he posed no ongoing threat.
The official said Naveed Akram was closely connected to Matari, who is serving seven years in jail for planning an IS insurgency as the self-declared Australian commander of the terrorist group.
Matari was part of an IS cell with several other Sydney men who have since been convicted of terrorist offences and were also close to Naveed Akram, according to sources with close knowledge of the matter.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said on Sunday that one of the gunmen was known to the agency, but did not specify which man.
NSW Police said that, as well as the firearms seized from the scene at Bondi Beach on Sunday, two improvised explosive devices were removed from a car on nearby Campbell Parade.The ABC has confirmed Naveed Akram studied for one year at Al Murad Institute in Western Sydney, which has strongly condemned the attack.
Institute founder Adam Ismail told the ABC the events at Bondi were a "horrific shock, 100 per cent", and that his family had received death threats after a photo of him with the alleged shooter circulated online.
In a video statement, Mr Ismail said he wanted to be extremely clear he had no involvement in the terror incident.
Mr Ismail said the attack was forbidden in Islam.
"What I find completely ironic is that the very Koran he was learning to recite clearly states that taking one innocent life is like killing all of humanity," he said.
"This makes it clear that what unfolded yesterday at Bondi is completely forbidden in Islam.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-15/bondi-beach-attack-gunmen-father-and-son/... That verse does not apply to muslims.
Every other time Children of Israel is mentioned in Quran it refers to Jews.
These guys had Islamic state flags on and in their car at Bondi.
Labor and Tony Burke are bringing Islamic state members to Australia do these stupid assclowns think of what could go wrong with that?
Forum
Pages: 
