A major terror attack took place at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a Hanukkah festival, leaving at least 15 people dead and many others injured. One of the suspected attackers, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by Australian police at the scene.
Police in Telangana, India have confirmed that Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad and held an Indian passport, but his connection with India had been limited for many years. He moved to Australia in 1998 after completing his education and had lived there for nearly three decades.
According to the police, Sajid had only visited India six times after migrating abroad, mostly for family-related matters such as property issues and visiting his elderly parents. However, he did not return to India when his father died, showing a growing distance from his family in Hyderabad.
Telangana Police also said that his family had minimal contact with him over the years and were unaware of any radicalisation or extremist activities. There was no adverse record against him from his time in India before he migrated. The police noted that there appears to be no connection between his alleged radicalisation and India or any influence from his local community in Telangana.
The attack is being treated as a terrorist act, and authorities are investigating possible links to extremist groups. Meanwhile, the search continues for reasons behind the shooting and how the weapons were obtained.