New details have emerged about the past of Sajid Akram, the man responsible for the tragic stabbing attack at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre. Investigations reveal that his first visit to India, specifically to the city of Hyderabad, occurred over two decades ago.
The Initial Journey to Hyderabad
Sajid Akram first travelled to Hyderabad, Telangana, in October of the year 2000. Notably, he was accompanied on this trip by his European wife. This early connection to India forms a part of the complex background of the individual who would later commit a violent act in Australia.
Akram, who was shot and killed by a police officer at the scene of the Bondi attack, had a history that spanned continents. The attack itself resulted in the deaths of six people and left several others injured, sending shockwaves through Australia and the international community.
Connections to India and Australia
While his initial documented visit was in 2000, it is understood that Akram maintained links to Hyderabad in the subsequent years. He was reportedly in a relationship with a woman from Hyderabad for approximately five years. Furthermore, he is said to have visited the city again in 2019.
On the Australian side, records indicate that Sajid Akram arrived in the country on a student visa. He later became an Australian citizen, a status he held at the time of the attack. The investigation into his motives and mental state is ongoing, with authorities piecing together his movements and history.
Aftermath and Investigation
The Bondi Beach stabbing incident, which took place at a busy shopping mall, was a rare and devastating event of mass violence in Australia. The swift action of a lone police inspector, who confronted and fatally shot the attacker, is widely credited with preventing further casualties.
Australian police continue to investigate the full timeline of Akram's life, including his periods of residence and travel between India and Australia. The probe aims to understand any triggering factors or radicalisation that may have led to the horrific act on April 13. The revelation of his early trip to Hyderabad adds another layer to the international dimensions of the case.
The victims of the attack included both men and women, and the community continues to mourn the lives lost. The incident has sparked renewed discussions on public safety, mental health interventions, and lone-actor threats in urban spaces.
