NYC, LA increase Hanukkah security after Sydney
New York and Los Angeles have bolstered security at public Hanukkah events after Australian authorities said a father and son, identified as Sajid and Naveed Akram, carried out an Islamic State–inspired mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed at least 15 people, injured dozens, left the father dead and the son hospitalized, and involved homemade ISIS flags, improvised explosive devices and legally owned firearms. U.S. Jewish security groups have urged tighter measures — preregistration, access controls and police presence — and organizations such as Chabad say they will continue public menorah lightings with heightened security.
📌 Key Facts
- Australian authorities have characterized the Bondi Beach rampage as an Islamic State–inspired terrorist attack; investigators recovered two homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices in the suspects’ vehicle.
- Police identified the attackers as a father and son: Sajid Akram (50) — killed at the scene — and his 24‑year‑old son Naveed Akram, who was shot by police and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
- Officials say the pair traveled in the Philippines from Nov. 1–28 (listing Davao as their final destination); Australian and Philippine authorities are probing the purpose and locations of that travel and Australian security sources report the men underwent “military‑style” training there.
- Forensics teams are examining firearms, ballistic and chemical evidence; authorities say the father legally owned multiple firearms (reported as six) and have found no confirmed evidence of additional attackers or facilitators so far, while cautioning the assessment could change as devices and records are analyzed.
- Casualties: leaders called it one of Australia’s worst mass shootings in decades — early reports put the death toll at 15 with dozens injured; later updates note dozens hospitalized (reports cite 25 hospitalized), including 10 in critical condition and three children, with victims aged roughly 10–87.
- Bystander interventions were captured on video: a couple identified as Boris and Sofia Gurman confronted and briefly disarmed an assailant and were fatally shot; another bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, wrestled a gun away but was shot multiple times and faces serious injury.
- Indian authorities say the older suspect, Sajid Akram, was originally from Hyderabad, held an Indian passport and migrated to Australia in 1998; at least one earlier report misidentifying nationality (as Pakistani) was corrected.
- U.S. Jewish security groups urged heightened protections for public Hanukkah events — recommending preregistration, screened/known attendees and tighter access controls — while some Jewish leaders called for continued public celebrations as an act of resilience; Chabad said an assistant rabbi, Eli Schlanger of Bondi, was among the victims and Jewish groups have increased security at menorah lightings (examples include enhanced police presence at events such as a Chabad lighting near the Gateway Arch).
📊 Relevant Data
Australia's immigration policy in the late 1990s and early 2000s shifted to allow students and skilled migrants from countries like India to enter, opening pathways for permanent residency, which facilitated the migration of individuals such as the older suspect in 1998.
In a cohort of 173 Australian citizens and residents involved in radical Islamist terrorism from 2012 onwards, 40% had Lebanese origins, compared to Lebanese Australians representing 15-20% of Australia's Muslim population, indicating overrepresentation.
Typology of Terror — The Backgrounds of Australian Jihadis — Lowy Institute
In the same cohort of 173 Australian jihadis from 2012 onwards, no individuals of Indian origin were identified, suggesting that involvement in such activities among Indian-origin Australians is rare.
Typology of Terror — The Backgrounds of Australian Jihadis — Lowy Institute
Second-generation immigrants comprise 60% of the Australian jihadi cohort, indicating overrepresentation compared to expectations of decreasing radicalization over generations.
Typology of Terror — The Backgrounds of Australian Jihadis — Lowy Institute
Among Indian-born Australians in 2021, the religious composition was approximately 45% Hindu, 20.8% Sikh, 10.3% Catholic, with Muslims comprising a smaller portion under 'other religions' (around 9.9% for all other religions combined).
Indian Australians — Wikipedia
📊 Analysis & Commentary (4)
"A critical commentary on the Bondi Beach (Sydney) Hanukkah attack that condemns the massacre, questions partisan and securitized reactions, and urges proportionate, community‑focused security and anti‑hate measures rather than performative political posturing."
"A City Journal opinion argues the Bondi Beach (Sydney) massacre was a deliberate, ideologically driven act enabled in part by policy and cultural choices—criticizing official reluctance to name Islamist motives and calling for stronger, honest security and policy responses."
"A City Journal opinion piece argues the Bondi Beach/Sydney Hanukkah massacre was predictable — the product of growing antisemitic threats, Islamist radicalization and policy/cultural failures — and calls for clearer condemnation and tougher security measures."
"A City Journal opinion piece on the Bondi Beach massacre interprets the Sydney Hanukkah attack as evidence of failures in current security and political responses, urging tougher, pragmatic counterterrorism and clearer public messaging rather than partisan or symbolic reactions."
📰 Sources (9)
- NSW Police said the father and son spent most of November (Nov. 1–28) in the Philippines; reasons and precise locations are under investigation.
- Australian PM Anthony Albanese stated the attack was 'motivated by ISIS ideology.'
- The Philippines Bureau of Immigration said the pair listed Davao as their final destination.
- ABC Australia reported the men underwent 'military‑style training' in the Philippines (per security sources).
- Expert context: analysts describe Abu Sayyaf as fragmented with residual ISIS affinity and limited external direction; broader overview of Islamist groups active in the southern Philippines.
- Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett formally labeled the Bondi Beach mass shooting a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Islamic State flags were found in the suspects’ vehicle; NSW Police confirmed two homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices were recovered.
- Updated casualty figures: 25 people remain hospitalized, including 10 in critical condition and 3 children; victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
- Authorities highlighted a bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed one assailant.
- Indian police stated the older suspect, Sajid Akram, was originally from Hyderabad, held an Indian passport, and migrated to Australia in 1998.
- Philippines Bureau of Immigration confirmed the suspects traveled in the country Nov. 1–28.
- Officials said the older suspect legally amassed six firearms; Australia’s leaders pledged the most sweeping gun-law tightening since 1996.
- Australian PM Anthony Albanese and AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett explicitly said the Bondi Beach mass shooting was inspired by Islamic State ideology.
- NSW authorities named the suspects as a father and son: Sajid Akram (50, killed at the scene) and Naveed Akram (24, hospitalized).
- Indian (Telangana) police confirmed the father was from Hyderabad, migrated to Australia in 1998, and held an Indian passport; the son and daughter were born in Australia and are citizens.
- Investigators said both suspects traveled to the Philippines from Nov. 1–28 with Davao listed as their final destination; ABC (Australia) reports they underwent 'military‑style training' there, citing security sources.
- Police said firearms used were legally owned by the father; ISIS flags and an improvised explosive device were found in their vehicle.
- Officials noted an earlier misidentification regarding Pakistani nationality; CBS reports at least one such claim was mistaken.
- Reuters-verified dashcam video shows two bystanders confronting the gunman before the Bondi Beach attack began.
- Authorities and family identified the bystander couple as Boris and Sofia Gurman; they briefly disarmed the assailant before he retrieved a second rifle and fatally shot them, making them the first victims.
- Another bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, wrestled a gun away but was shot multiple times; his attorney says he has undergone surgery and may lose his left arm.
- President Donald Trump publicly praised Ahmed as "a very, very brave person."
- NSW Police confirmed the younger attacker’s vehicle contained improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags.
- Authorities formally described the shooting as an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.
- Police said the 24- and 50-year-old suspects recently traveled to the Philippines; investigators are probing the purpose and locations.
- Forensic teams are conducting ballistic and chemical examinations of seized items.
- Officials said there is currently no evidence of additional attackers or facilitators, while cautioning that assessment could change as devices and records are analyzed.
- Australia’s prime minister said the Bondi Beach attackers appear to have been inspired by Islamic State.
- Police found two homemade Islamic State flags and improvised explosive devices in a car registered to the 24-year-old suspect.
- Authorities describe the suspects as a 24-year-old man and his 50-year-old father accused of carrying out the attack.
- Officials characterize the incident as Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years; toll stands at 15 dead and dozens injured.
- Leading U.S. Jewish security groups urged that public Jewish events be limited to preregistered, screened attendees, with event details shared only after confirmed registration.
- Advisory recommends access controls (locks/entrance procedures) to admit only known, confirmed registrants.
- Chabad reports assistant rabbi Eli Schlanger of Chabad of Bondi was among those killed; the movement will proceed with thousands of public menorah lightings with heightened security.
- Rabbi Jeffrey Myers (Tree of Life) and Temple Beth Sholom (Miami) urged continued public celebrations as an act of resilience despite heightened risk.
- Example of implementation: Chabad of Greater St. Louis held a large outdoor menorah lighting near the Gateway Arch with increased police presence; organizers estimated ~300 attendees in below-freezing temperatures.
- Police identified the suspected attackers as a father and his adult son.
- Authorities said the father was killed at the scene; the son was shot by police and is hospitalized in critical condition.
- Australian authorities described the Bondi Beach shooting as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community.
- On‑the‑ground account: local Jewish leader Dionne Taylor said community warnings to authorities preceded the attack and detailed a pattern of escalating antisemitic incidents.