Terrorist organisation Islamic State has praised the alleged Bondi terrorists as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride,’ while encouraging future attacks.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, are accused of opening fire into a crowd of Jewish people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Naveed remains in hospital under police guard after being shot by officers and woke from a coma on Tuesday. He has been charged with 59 offences.
His father Sajid, a licensed firearms holder, was shot dead by police at the scene.
The terrorist group applauded the father and son as ‘lions’ and a ‘source of pride’ in its weekly bulletin Al-Naba on Friday via Telegram.
However, it stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack that left 15 dead — including a 10-year-old girl – and more than 40 hospitalised.
It also claimed the pair may have been ‘inspired’ by its teachings.
The terrorist group did not claim responsibility for the massacre but said ‘the zealous ones answered the call’.
A terrifying admission praised the gunmen after they ‘implemented the recommendations to target holidays and gatherings’ and warned that more attacks were to come.
‘Whether the attackers received its guidance and support or were the result of its incitement and policies … all your heroics, O strangers, will not be surprised by the bloodshed and bloodshed,’ it read.
‘If you imprison your Muslims in migrant camps, prevent them from places of worship, then carry out official orders to kill Jews and Christians, and in every street you abduct Muslims, torture them, insult them, imprison them, humiliate them, and disgrace them – then do not be surprised if the season of holidays soaked in blood, and if their celebrations are interrupted?’
The statement comes as police probe the Akrams’ alleged links to Islamic extremism after explosives and homemade IS flags were found in a car registered to Naveed at the scene of the shooting.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said earlier this week that initial investigations suggested the attack was ‘inspired by ISIS.’
The pair allegedly filmed an ISIS-style propaganda video at their rented Campsie Airbnb before the deadly shooting, expressing extremist views.
Another key line of inquiry is their one-month trip to the Philippines in November, which authorities are still investigating.
The pair’s final destination was the southern city of Davao, capital of the island of Mindanao, which has been a hotbed for Islamic militants for decades — particularly since ISIS was defeated in Syria in 2019.
The praise from Islamic State comes as a group of men were apprehended on Thursday about 5pm in southwest Sydney, who reportedly shared the same extremist ideology as the alleged gunmen.
Heavily-armed tactical officers intercepted two cars and arrested the group as part of a dramatic counter-terrorism operation.
Shocking images show several officers standing over the group at the intersection of George and Campbell streets, in the suburb of Liverpool.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told 702 ABC Radio Sydney on Friday the men had travelled from Victoria and were known to police.
‘We have some indication that Bondi was one of the locations they might be visiting yesterday but with no specific intent in mind or proven at this stage,’ he said.
When asked whether the men had links to extremist Islamic ideology, Deputy Commissioner Hudson replied:
‘That’s our belief at this stage, yes.’
Police have not identified any connection to the ongoing investigation into the Bondi terror attack. The motive of the men remains unclear.
