The gunmen in the terror attack that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 15, have been identified by authorities as Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50. The son was investigated in 2019 — reportedly over ties to ISIS — but was cleared after six months, officials said.

The two men’s identities and histories were publicized as Australia, its Jewish community and the wider Jewish world continued to grapple with the fallout from the attack, which was one of Australia’s bloodiest shootings in history and the deadliest antisemitic massacre outside Israel since October 7, 2023.

According to Australia’s ABC outlet, both gunmen are believed to have pledged allegiance to the ISIS terror group.

An official from the country’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team told the outlet that an ISIS flag had been found in their car close to the attack, and police said Sunday that an improvised explosive device was found in a car linked to one of the attackers.

Sajid, who authorities said was a licensed firearm owner with six guns, was shot dead by police on the scene of the attack. Naveed is critically wounded and in the hospital under police guard, according to local reports, and will face charges if he survives.

The father first came to Australia in 1998 on a student visa, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told reporters on Monday.

In 2001, he obtained a visa granted to the partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents. Since then, the government says he travelled overseas three times.

The guns have since been recovered, and the pair’s home has been raided, along with an AirBnB where they were staying prior to the attack.

Naveed was probed in 2019 by ASIO, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a press conference Monday.

“He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence,” Albanese said. “The investigation went for a period of six months.”

Both he and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke declined to expand on the nature of the suspicions, but ABC News reported that Naveed was investigated for his close ties to an ISIS cell, citing an unnamed official.

According to the official, Naveed was close to members of the cell including Isaac El Matari, an ISIS terrorist arrested that year who identified himself as the group’s........

© The Times of Israel