Prime Minister Modi has condemned the attack in Australia where a Pakistani-origin Naveed Akram, has been identified as one among two shooters who killed 12 people belonging to the Jewish community in Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Those killed were celebrating the Jewish festival of Hannukah.
In the exchange of fire with police, one of the shooters was killed and the other was reported in critical condition in hospital.
The death toll is likely to go up as 29 others were injured when the shooting began in the evening, local time. Those undergoing treatment include a child and two police officers, both of whose condition was described as critical by police.
Akram is not known to the police but his home in the Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg was raided. Police are yet to release the name of the other person. They are yet to establish if a third person was involved in the shooting or if there were other accomplices.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed that the attack deliberately targeted the Jewish community. A vehicle in Campbell Parade, Bondi, was found to contain several improvised explosive devices. A bomb disposal unit was working on the vehicle.
New South Wales police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said “The types of weapons… some of the other items we found at the scene – as I said, we have found the improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender.”
He described the incident as a “terrorist attack, and praised a bystander who wrested the rifle from one of the attacker’s, identified as Akram, and pointed it at him. The big question circulating at this point is where the rifles were procured from.
“I have just spoken to the AFP Commissioner and with the NSW Premier,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “We are working with the NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed. I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Australian government of having fuelled antisemitism in the period leading up to Sunday’s shooting in Sydney. “Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” he said.
