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Bondi Beach terrorist attack live updates: NSW Police reveal Sajid Akram’s gun licence had lapsed in 2016

Ava Martin, Max Corstorphan and Amy Lee
The Nightly
Australian newspapers dedicate their front pages to commemorate the victims of the Bondi massacre, with headlines including 'murdered', 'shattered innocence' and tributes to 10-year-old Matilda.

Scroll down for all the latest news and updates.

LIVE

Key events

30 mins ago - 12:09 PM

New footage emerges of couple who appear to try stop Bondi gunman

54 mins ago - 11:46 AM

‘People are dead’: Ley's blunt message telling PM to act now

1 hour ago - 11:16 AM

Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce place flowers at Bondi

1 hour ago - 11:13 AM

Hanson says she wants extremists ‘rounded up’

1 hour ago - 11:03 AM

‘People want change’: Hanson, Joyce visit Bondi site

1 hour ago - 10:51 AM

‘Inspired by ISIS’: PM reveals possible motive

1 hour ago - 10:45 AM

‘Shot in the front’: Premier slams speculation over police response

2 hours ago - 10:39 AM

Authorities say Philippines trip not flagged, not a failure in security

2 hours ago - 10:34 AM

Shock gun update: Gun licence application lapsed for multiple years

2 hours ago - 10:31 AM

NSW Police confirm gunmen went to Philippines before shooting

2 hours ago - 10:24 AM

‘Anti-Semitic terrorist attacks will not be successful’, says Albanese

2 hours ago - 10:21 AM

Premier flags ‘toughest’ gun laws in Australia

3 hours ago - 09:25 AM

Howard’s chilling warning as debate erupts on gun reform

3 hours ago - 09:17 AM

‘I’m ashamed’: Howard targets Albo, Wong’s politics in lead up to Bondi attack

3 hours ago - 09:12 AM

Howard hopes Bondi will be ‘wake-up’ call on antisemitism

4 hours ago - 08:40 AM

How hero cop took down Bondi gunman with 40 metre shot

4 hours ago - 08:37 AM

‘Try harder, do better’: Howard’s message to Australia

5 hours ago - 07:32 AM

Ambassador calls for protection for Jews, Muslims and all Australians

5 hours ago - 07:23 AM

Israel’s Ambassador to Australia visits Bondi

5 hours ago - 07:11 AM

‘Antisemitism was the loaded weapon': ScoMo speaks out

5 hours ago - 07:02 AM

Albanese defends Government’s action on anti-Semitism

6 hours ago - 06:28 AM

Millions raised for Bondi Beach victims

6 hours ago - 06:25 AM

Bondi shooters’ trip to Philippines being investigated

7 hours ago - 05:03 AM

Australia has ‘changed forever’: Ley

8 hours ago - 04:34 AM

Twelve injured victims remain in critical condition

8 hours ago - 04:02 AM

Vigils held around the world, flags at half-mast

8 hours ago - 03:55 AM

Mourners pay respects in Bondi

8 hours ago - 03:44 AM

Pope denounces ‘anti-Semitic violence’ of Sydney attack

8 hours ago - 03:41 AM

‘Symbol of resilience’: Sydney Opera House lights up

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Caitlyn Rintoul and 2+ more are reporting live.

Caitlyn Rintoul

New footage emerges of couple who appear to try stop Bondi gunman

New footage has emerged of a couple who appeared to try to stop one of the Bondi Beach gunmen before he got to the footbridge to launch the attack on a Jewish event at Archer Park.

Dashcam footage appears to show a man wrestle and disarm terrorist Sajid Akram, 50, by a silver sedan as a woman rushes towards them. His son Naveed, 24, can’t be seen in the vision.

According to reports by The Daily Telegraph and Sky News, outlets which first published the video, the car had an ISIS flag draped over the front wind screen.

It’s understood that the couple didn’t survive the encounter.

NSW Police couldn’t provide further details to The Nightly, saying their investigation was still underway and “not all victims have been formally identified”.

Bondi dashcam footage shows man attempting to stop shooters.

Max Corstorphan

‘People are dead’: Ley's blunt message telling PM to act now

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has delivered a brutally blunt message to the PM: act now on antisemitism because Australians are dead.

“It is very emotional coming to Bondi. It has been a very hard few days coming here, seeing friends. I grew up around here,” Ms Ley said on Tuesday about the usually peaceful place.

“We have been calling on the government to respond to and implement the Segal report since it came down. With this report, we were told we had to wait until the Islamophobia report came down. Then we were told we had to wait for the Human Rights Commission report.

“There is white hot Anger in the Jewish community that this government hasn’t done enough. 15 people are dead, now is the time for action.

“What has been allowed to occur in this country over the last two and a half years is a delegitimisation of the place of Jewish Australians.

“I want to see them take action because people are dead, people are in hospital in a critical condition. Time for words is finished. The time for action is now.”

Caitlyn Rintoul

Jillian Segal says ‘progression’ of violence against Jewish Australians was evident

Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal says the “progression” of violence against Jewish Australians has been evident since October 7, 2023.

She highlighted previous incidents and rolling protests in the lead up to Sunday’s massacre of 15 people at a family Jewish event at Australia’s most iconic beach.

“We’ve learned that from history that words, hateful words, lead to hateful action,” she told Sky News on Tuesday.

“There is a progression. We had the rally on the forecourt of the Opera House, and then we’ve had lots of demonstrations and lots of hate. The march across… the Harbor Bridge. You can see the progression.

“I think antisemitism is a known hatred that we have not treated seriously enough as a country.

“Like other Western countries, we sort of believed that it was fine our multiculturalism would protect us, and it hasn’t.

“I am very keen to take this terrible tragedy and use it as an opportunity to say to everybody in the whole community of Australia, one consistent with the Prime Minister’s message, let’s come together.

“We have to rid our country of this scourge of this hatred. It’s an ancient hatred, and it’s been allowed to become normalised in lots of parts of our society, and we won’t have a successful, cohesive society unless we deal with it.”

NSW Health provide update on condition of Bondi victims

Patients are spread across multiple Sydney hospitals as recovery efforts continue following the massacre at Bondi Beach.

NSW Health have provided an update of the conditions of those in hospital with five patients in a critical condition.

As of 12pm Tuesday there are twenty-four patients receiving care in eight Sydney hospitals for their injuries:

  • St Vincent’s Hospital: Two people in a critical condition, two critical but stable, and one stable.
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital: Three critical, one critical but stable, and two stable.
  • Prince of Wales Hospital: Two stable patients.
  • St George Hospital: One critical and two stable patients.
  • Sydney Eye Hospital: One stable patient
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital: Three stable patients.
  • Royal North Shore hospital: One critical but stable and two stable.
  • Liverpool Hopsital: Two people in a stable condition.
Max Corstorphan

Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce place flowers at Bondi

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson and One Nation member for New England Barnaby Joyce place flowers at a makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Australia is in mourning after gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach, killing 16 people in an attack designed to target the Jewish community. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson and One Nation member for New England Barnaby Joyce place flowers at a makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Australia is in mourning after gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach, killing 16 people in an attack designed to target the Jewish community. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING Credit: AAPIMAGE
Max Corstorphan

Hanson says she wants extremists ‘rounded up’

Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce were applauded when they arrived at Bondi on Tuesday.

Talking about how she would tackle extremists and those who engage in hate speech, Senator Hanson said she wants them rounded up.

“I would have them rounded up. I would. Rounded up, rounded up.

“You would be charged over your hate speech.”

Senator Hanson called out people who “celebrated” October 7, saying the Government should have done more.

“They should have been questioned over that.

“There’s a lot of things that can be done to change it.

Senator Hanson said she also believes changes need to be made to citizenship to protect Australians.

Max Corstorphan

‘People want change’: Hanson, Joyce visit Bondi site

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson and new One Nation member Barnaby Joyce have gone to Bondi Beach to pay tribute to the victims killed on Sunday.

“People want change. People want to feel safe streets,” Senator Hanson said after speaking with mourners at the memorial outside Bondi Pavilion.

“(I) call on the Prime Minister to deal with these hate preachers that are out on our streets. (It) should not be allowed.”

Speaking about what leaders needed to show right now, Senator Hanson said: “Don’t be weak and don’t be pathetic.

“How do you deal with issues if you don’t know there is an issue there.

“It’s not about whether you’re going to get the Muslim vote in some of the communities to ensure that you’re in government. It is about doing the right thing right across the board. What’s fair and just right across the board for all Australians.”

Max Corstorphan

‘Inspired by ISIS’: PM reveals possible motive

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there is evidence that suggests Bondi’s terror attack could have been inspired by ISIS.

Asked about Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old shooter’s possible links to a jihadist preacher, the PM said the “evil ideology” must be called out.

“What we know already is, as part of the investigation, it goes to motive and what is being investigated, as the Commissioner has said,

“It would appear that there is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organisation, by ISIS.

“Some of the evidence which is being procured, including the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized, are part of that.

“ISIS has created an evil ideology that has been called out, not just by the Australian Government but globally.”

Max Corstorphan

‘Shot in the front’: Premier slams speculation over police response

After multiple questions around the NSW Police response to the Bondi terrorist attack, Premier Chris Minns has slapped down any suggestion that authorities did not do enough.

“I feel it is incredibly important for me, as the Premier of New South Wales, to respond to some of these questions,” he said.

“The NSW Police acted with bravery and integrity. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns. They didn’t take a backwards step.

“The offenders had long-range rifles and NSW Police officers were responsible for killing one of them and shooting the other one. As a result, saving many people’s lives.

“There are two officers in critical care in NSW hospitals at the moment. They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front.

“I’m sorry to be graphic about it, but if there is any suggestion that NSW Police didn’t live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it is not consistent with the facts.

“NSW Police officers, some of whom had been in the job for a number of months, put their lives on the line to save people in this state and I think this rush to conclusions before all the facts are known, in my view, is disrespectful to their actions on Sunday.”

Max Corstorphan

Authorities say Philippines trip not flagged, not a failure in security

NSW Police Commissioner says the Akrams’ trip to the Philippines in November was not flagged by Australian intelligence, saying that is not a failure.

“The reason that the Akrams travelled to the Philippines, where they went, is unknown at this stage and subject to the investigation,” he said.

“I don’t believe it was an intelligence failure at all.

“We are talking about something that is retrospective. Post what is a horrific crime, this will be a thorough investigation.

“NSW Police and the AFP are committed to that. We are finding information post the event.”

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Human heartbreak behind the Bondi Beach massacre.