Alleged Bondi shooter preached ‘law of Allah’ three months before coming under ASIO’s watch

Eli Green
NewsWire
Alleged Bondi gunman Naveed Akram practised Islam as a teenager.
Alleged Bondi gunman Naveed Akram practised Islam as a teenager. Credit: Supplied

One of the alleged Bondi shooters was preaching the “law of Allah” on Sydney streets as a teenager in the same year he was investigated by ASIO for links to extremists.

New videos have emerged of a teenage Naveed Akram preaching with an Islamic group in mid-2019, just months before he came to the attention of Australia’s domestic intelligence organisation.

“Allah will reward you for whatever action you do in his course,” he says in one video.

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The now 24-year-old is alleged to have opened fire on crowds gathered at a Chanukah celebration on Bondi Beach on Sunday. He was joined by his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police.

The younger Akram, who is under police guard in hospital, was known to ASIO after he was the subject of an investigation from October 2019 over ties to a Sydney-based ISIS terror cell.

Seventeen-year-old Naveed Akram preaching Islam on Sydney streets. Picture: Supplied
Seventeen-year-old Naveed Akram preaching Islam on Sydney streets. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Akram is accused of opening fire on those celebrating Chanukah at Bondi on Sunday. Picture: Sky News
Akram is accused of opening fire on those celebrating Chanukah at Bondi on Sunday. Sky News Credit: Supplied

He was not placed on a terror watch list after the six-month investigation, which also included his father, found “no evidence” he had been radicalised.

Videos posted by Street Dawah Movement AUS show Akram, at age 17, preaching Islam on Western Sydney streets, urging people to “spread the message that Allah is the one”.

“Inshallah, this will save you on the Day of Judgment,” he says in one video.

Mourners continue to gather in Bondi to honour those killed in the attacks. Picture: Gaye Gerard /NewsWire
Mourners continue to gather in Bondi to honour those killed in the attacks. Gaye Gerard /NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
Parts of Bondi remain a crime scene in the days following the shooting. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Parts of Bondi remain a crime scene in the days following the shooting. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia

“When everyone will be asking ‘where’s the hope with this?’ this will come for you on the Day of Judgment.”

There are no calls for violence in the videos posted on social media.

Another video features Akram urging Muslims to “pray and fulfil our obligation to Allah”.

Police have raided the Akrams’ home. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Police have raided the Akrams’ home. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia

“The law of Allah … is more important than anything else you have to do – work, school … I can’t stress it enough,” he said.

Akram is in a coma in hospital following the attacks, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Police have raided the father and son’s home in Bonnyrigg as well as an Airbnb property in Campsie, where the men stayed before the attack.

The elder Akram had been a licensed firearms holder for a decade, and it’s believed six of the guns used in the attack were registered.

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