Sydney, Dec 15 (NationPress) The individuals responsible for the tragic shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, which resulted in the loss of 15 innocent lives, have been identified as a father-son pair hailing from Lahore, Pakistan, according to police statements released on Monday.

One of the attackers, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police during the incident, while his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram was injured and is now receiving medical care at a local hospital, as confirmed by New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.

The duo allegedly opened fire on Sunday evening at the 'Chanukah by the Sea' celebration, an event marking the beginning of the Jewish festival.

This attack led to the deaths of 16 individuals, including the shooter Sajid. Authorities reported that among the deceased was a 10-year-old girl who succumbed to injuries at a children's hospital, while the oldest victim was 87 years old.

Investigators revealed that the pair had previously informed their family that they were heading to the South Coast for a fishing excursion. Instead, they executed what is now recognized as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years, in a nation noted for its stringent gun control laws.

Authorities disclosed that Naveed Akram is an Australian citizen, while his father, Sajid Akram, immigrated to Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which transitioned to a partner visa in 2001 and subsequently a resident return visa, as stated by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

In response to the attack, heavily armed police executed search warrants on Sunday night at the family residence in Bonnyrigg, located in south-west Sydney, and at an Airbnb where the two men had been residing.

Authorities also discovered a vehicle on Campbell Parade in Bondi that contained multiple improvised explosive devices, prompting a bomb disposal unit to assess the situation.

Commissioner Lanyon stated, regarding the recovered weapons and materials, "The types of weapons… some of the other items we found at the scene -- as I said, we have found the improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender," and officially categorized the incident as a terrorist attack.

Investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), which includes both state and federal agencies, suspect that the attackers had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization, according to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Officials, speaking anonymously, reported that two IS flags were recovered from the attackers' vehicle at Bondi Beach. One of the flags was prominently visible in footage captured from the scene.

A senior JCTT official mentioned that Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, had previously monitored Naveed Akram approximately six years ago after police disrupted plans for an IS-inspired terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed first attracted ASIO's interest in October 2019 and was investigated for around six months, but authorities later determined he did not present an ongoing threat.

According to officials, Naveed Akram maintained close connections with Matari, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for orchestrating an IS insurgency as the self-proclaimed Australian commander of the terror group.

Matari was part of an IS cell that included several other Sydney residents who have since been convicted of terrorism-related crimes. Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that these individuals were closely linked to Naveed.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess stated on Sunday that one of the attackers was known to the agency, although he did not specify which individual. "One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here," Burgess said.

The JCTT consists of ASIO, the New South Wales Police, the Australian Federal Police, and the NSW Crime Commission.

Commissioner Lanyon informed reporters on Monday that Sajid Akram had been a licensed firearms holder for the past ten years.

According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Naveed Akram was unemployed as a bricklayer, having lost his job roughly two months ago due to his employer's insolvency. His mother reportedly stated he had been actively seeking employment.

The Akram family resides in a three-bedroom home purchased in 2024, having previously lived in Cabramatta. Naveed lived there with his parents, his 22-year-old sister, and his 20-year-old brother.

Naveed's mother, Verena, informed local media that her son last communicated with the family on Sunday morning, just hours before the shooting. She expressed disbelief that he could be involved in violence or extremist behavior, stating she did not recognize him from images captured at the scene.