Terrorist Attack by Two Muslim Father-Son Duo on Hanukkah Celebration

 

The terrorist attack on Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach during the Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025, has shaken Australia. Two Muslim men of Pakistani origin, father-son duo Sajid Akram (50) and Naveed Akram (24), carried out indiscriminate shooting, killing 15 to 16 people, including an innocent 10-year-old girl and an Israeli citizen. Dozens were injured. Police shot and killed Sajid at the scene, while Naveed is critically injured and in hospital under police custody.

 

 Identification of the Attackers: Pakistani Connection and ISIS Inspiration

 

Sajid and Naveed Akram lived in the Bonnyrigg area of Sydney. Sajid had six legally licensed firearms in his name, which were used in the attack. Police recovered IED bombs and ISIS flags from their home. According to reports, Naveed had recently joined ISIS and was receiving religious education at the Al-Murad Islamic Institute, where he underwent Islamic radicalization. Naveed, born in Pakistan, learned hatred toward Jews through his Islamic education.

 

Planned Conspiracy: Targeting Jews

 

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared it a targeted terrorist attack on the Jewish community. Two IEDs were found at the scene, which were defused by the bomb squad. The attackers told their family they were going fishing, but were actually preparing for the attack. This is part of the rising wave of anti-Semitism (hatred toward Jews), inspired by Islamic education.

 

From an ex-Muslim’s perspective, this attack is the result of interpretations of Islam, the Quran, and Hadith. Some interpretations of the Quran and Hadith, along with madrasas and institutions, teach youth jihad and hatred toward non-Muslims. Organizations like ISIS thrive on this ideology. The act of these Pakistani Muslim attackers shows how Islamic radicalization is infiltrating Western countries. Let’s understand by reading some verses of the Quran and Hadith how the Quran and Hadith spread hatred toward non-Muslims.

 

Surah At-Tawbah (Surah 9:29)

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture—[fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.” (Referring to the People of the Book—Jews and Christians.)

 

Surah At-Tawbah (9:5)

“And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

 

Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:51)

“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.”

 

Hadith Text (Sahih Bukhari 2926):

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say: ‘O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.'”

This Hadith is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him).

 

Rising Anti-Semitism in Australia and Islamic Extremism

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “pure evil” and an “act of anti-Semitism.” But the question is, how long will we keep ignoring such attacks by calling them “isolated incidents”? The Muslim community must come forward and oppose the extremist interpretations of Islam. Reform in Islam is necessary so that festivals like Hanukkah are not turned into bloodshed. If the Muslim society does not do this, the world will respond to such terrorist attacks with of Muslim violence, and then no one will see your tears.

This attack is the most horrific terrorist incident in Australia’s history. Tribute to the innocent victims, but uprooting the roots of Islamic extremism is now essential. This ideology of hatred is a threat to world peace.