The terrorist organization ISIS has released a disturbing statement praising the Bondi Beach attack as a matter of honor. The group showcased their satisfaction over the violent incident that took place during a Jewish festival in Sydney through an article on their Telegram channel. They also hailed the individuals involved in the attack as “heroes.”
Although ISIS did not explicitly claim responsibility for the tragic event on Sunday where 15 people were killed at a Jewish gathering on Bondi Beach in Sydney, they described it as a point of pride in their Telegram article. One of the assailants, Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old bricklayer, had previously been under scrutiny for suspected ties to Islamic State. Australian authorities had been monitoring him for six months in 2019.
Mal Lanyon, the Commissioner of New South Wales Police Force, announced that a car registered to Naveed Akram was discovered containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and homemade ISIS flags. Following the incident that led to the death of his father, Sajid Akram, Naveed, who sustained critical injuries in a police confrontation, now faces 59 charges related to the massacre.
The tragic event unfolded when two gunmen, one of whom was Naveed, opened fire at Bondi Beach in Sydney, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals. Naveed, the sole surviving attacker, is facing numerous charges, including multiple counts of murder, committing a terrorist act, intending to murder, placing explosives near a building, firing a weapon with intent to cause harm, and displaying terrorist symbols.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the actions of the gunmen as he characterized them as “pure evil” and a deliberate targeting of the Jewish community.