Bondi Beach capturing: Video footage exhibits hero cop hitting ‘as soon as in a lifetime’ shot to kill gunman
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the mass shooting at the Hanukkah event as “an act of terror” as investigations into the attack remain ongoing
Video footage taken from the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach that killed 15 civilians shows the moments a hero officer hit a ‘once in a lifetime’ shot as he attempted to take down the attackers.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens others injured after father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire on members of the Jewish community gathered at a Hanukkah event at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach in Sydney at around 6.50pm on evening of Sunday, December 14.
Footage circulating on social media shows the police officer sneaking up behind the gunmen and taking cover behind a tree before firing at footbridge on which the pair launched the attack. Separate footage shows the older alleged attacker, Sajid, collapse before Naveed appears to returns fire.
The younger attacker was shot moments later and remains in a critical condition.
New South Wales (NSW) Police have not named the officer who killed Sajid. But the Daily Telegraph reported that police have called the hit a “once in a lifetime shot” and praised the detective’s quick thinking and extraordinary aim. The officer is believed to have 15 years experience in the NSW Police force, The Sun reported.
An investigation into the country’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades is ongoing.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the mass shooting, which took the life of a child as young as 10, as “an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of antisemitism.”
He said separately in a radio interview with ABC Sydney that the Akram’s attack “was motivated by Islamic State ideology.” He added that the information received by the investigation thus far indicates that the gunmen had acted alone.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said in a press conference on Tuesday, December 16 that gunmen parked a vehicle at the beach which contained two “homemade” Islamic State group flags as well as improvised explosive devices. Police continue to work on establishing the motive of the attack.
The crime scene at Bondi Beach will likely remain in place until the afternoon of Wednesday, December 17.
Authorities in Australia are also investigating why the two alleged Bondi shooters, Naveed and Sajid Akram, travelled to the Philippines last month.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed on Tuesday, December 16: “I can confirm that they did travel to the Philippines. The reasons why they went to the Philippines, and the purpose of that, and where they went when they were there, are under investigation at the moment.”
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