Australia is in mourning following its deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades in which a father and son killed 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach Sydney.
The father 50 was killed at the scene bringing the death toll to 16 while his 24 year old son remains in critical condition in hospital. Forty others were injured including two police officers who are in serious but stable condition. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old.
Authorities have not officially released the shooters’ names but media outlets identified them as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram. The father had held a firearms license since 2015 with six registered weapons and one of the suspects was previously known to authorities but not considered an immediate threat. Videos from the scene showed the men firing what appeared to be a bolt action rifle and a shotgun and two Islamic State flags were reportedly found in their vehicle.
The tragedy has raised urgent questions about Australia’s gun laws which are already among the strictest in the world. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he will ask Cabinet to review restrictions including the number of weapons allowed per license and how long licenses should remain valid.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigations are ongoing: “At this stage we know very little about them,” as authorities work through the suspects’ background and motive.
The attack has left the nation in shock and has reignited the debate over whether even the toughest gun laws are enough to prevent such tragedies.
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