‘Shambles’: Why it took years for Sajid Akram to obtain a gun licence
Slain Bondi gunman Sajid Akram’s long delays in obtaining a NSW gun licence were because the system was “a shambles” and based on paper records and did not involve any red flags being raised, according to NSW government insiders.
Mystery has surrounded why it took so long for the 50-year-old to secure a gun licence and why he didn’t raise red flags given the fact his son had been assessed by ASIO just a few years earlier.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed last week that he first applied for a 2015 licence, but his application lapsed when he failed to provide a photograph.
“A second category A/B licence was applied for Mr Akram in 2020. That licence was recommended for issue and issued in 2023.”
When he reapplied in 2020 and was granted the licence in 2023 — it was four years after his son, Naveed Akram, 24, first came to the attention of ASIO. ASIO did not regard him as an ongoing threat at that time.
At the time, there was no link up with the NSW gun licensing body and families of people who had come to the attention of ASIO.Instead, officials claim that until just a few years ago most of the records at the gun licence body were paper based and the system was “a shambles” until it was digitised.
This appears to have coincided around the same time that Sajid secured his licence.
Sajid legally owned six rifles and shotguns. He had category AB firearm licence, and was legally in possession of six guns, according to the NSW Police Commissioner.
( they never mention the illegal Rem 870 pump action wonder why?)
Independent NSW MP Phil Donato, a former police prosecutor and licensed firearms holder, has raised questions about the long waiting period Sajid faced for his gun licence.
“I’ve never in my experience heard of someone waiting three years for an approval to be granted by the firearms registry,” he told The Australian on Monday.
“It begs the question — what was the reason for the delay? I don’t accept it was a backlog of applications or being understaffed at the registry.”Whether it was a delay because the registry was “a shambles” or not, gun purchases made by Sajid in September 2023 should have caught the attention of authorities.
Red flag over three identical guns
Under the national firearm agreement, the purchase of several identical guns should have triggered an investigation.
Police allege the bulky items loaded into their vehicle included two single barrel shotguns, a Beretta rifle, four homemade improvised explosive devices — three pipe bombs, one tennis ball bomb, one large IED bomb — and two Islamic State flags.
“The Accused and (Sajid Akram) used three firearms in their possession to shoot at a large number of people gathered for a Jewish event named ‘Chanukah by the Sea 2025,” the police facts allege.
“Together, the Accused and his father shot and killed 15 people. A further 40 victims were wounded by their gunfire, including two responding NSW Police officers who attended the scene.
Family home, Airbnb searchedAfter the Bondi attack, police searched the family home in Bonnyrigg,
allegedly finding a homemade firearmWhen police searched the Campsie Airbnb premises they allegedly found a rifle, a shotgun and bomb-making equipment.
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/shambles-why-it-took-years-f... For some reason his license was delayed for 3 years which is unheard of nobody waits that long for approval.
Background checks are mandatory it's absurd to claim police from firearms registry aren't contacting ASIO with background checks.
for firearm purchase the police will query why you need another of that type and calibre. It's unheard of for them to approve 2 identical rifles or shotguns for hunters.
The Police have to approve every purchase before issuing a PTA.
When they raided his house they found an illegal home made gun. If they find any illegal or unregistered guns with safe storage inspections they leave with all of your guns.
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