In brief
In a recent court disclosure, it has been revealed that the assailants in the Bondi Beach attack threw explosives, including a so-called 'tennis ball bomb', before launching their assault on a Hanukkah celebration. Naveed Akram, now charged with 15 counts of murder, and his deceased father, Sajid Akram, had allegedly planned the attack for months, demonstrating their links to extremist ideologies. A video manifesto and extensive preparation were uncovered on Naveed's phone.
The gunmen who allegedly carried out a deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last week threw four undetonated explosives at the start of the attack, including a 'tennis ball bomb', according to newly released documents.
Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with dozens of offences including 15 counts of murder over the attack at a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. Akram, who was shot by police during the attack, was released from hospital on Monday and transferred to a prison.
The second alleged gunman, his father Sajid Akram, was shot dead.
The pair recorded a video manifesto in October in which they sit in front of the Islamic State group flag, according to police documents.
The Akrams 'meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months', police alleged. Videos found on Naveed's phone showed the pair were motivated by 'violent extremist ideology' linked to the Islamic State group.
They include one video in which the pair sit in front of an Islamic State flag and detail their motivation for the Bondi attack and condemn 'the acts of \'Zionists\', according to police.
Another video allegedly showed the pair conducting firearms training in what police believe to be rural New South Wales in October. 'The Accused and his father are seen throughout the video firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner,' police alleged.
CCTV recorded at Bondi beach two days ahead of the attack also showed the Akrams driving to the area and carrying out reconnaissance, police alleged. CCTV also captured the pair leaving rented accommodation in the Sydney suburb of Campsie hours before the attack 'carrying long and bulky items wrapped in blankets', which police said included firearms, home-made improvised explosive devices including the 'tennis ball bomb', and two Islamic State flags.
The Akrams placed the flags on the inside of their vehicle before driving to Bondi. They later threw three homemade pipe bombs and the tennis ball bomb as they approached a footbridge during the attack. Although deemed 'viable', the devices did not detonate.
Naveed Akram, who was shot in the abdomen by police, did not appear at Monday's court session.
