Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan reveals ‘scary’ second he was locked in restaurant throughout Bondi Beach terror assault
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has revealed he was ‘locked in a restaurant’ in Bondi during a terror attack on Bondi Beach.
In an act of terrorism targeting a Jewish holiday celebration, witnesses said two men stepped out of a vehicle on Campbell Parade, near Bondi Pavilion, and opened fire about 6.40pm on Sunday with footage showing blast after blast on the tourist strip. Some witnesses report more than 30 shots.
Video and photos taken by a Daily Mail photographer show a gunman, later identified as Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney‘s southwest, opening fire from an elevated bridge.
Vaughan, who is in Australia to cover The Ashes, posted on X on Sunday: ‘Being locked in a restaurant in Bondi was scary .. Now home safe.
‘But thanks so much to the emergency services and the guy who confronted the terrorist .. thoughts with all who have been affected .. xxx’
Twelve people, including children, are dead after two gunmen armed with rifles opened fire on Sunday.
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has revealed he was locked in a restaurant in Bondi on Sunday during the Bondi Beach terror attack
Naveed Akram, 24, one of the shooters, armed with a rifle at Bondi Beach
A festival, Chanukah by the Sea, advertised as a night of family fun, was taking place, with children attending the event when the gunmen opened fire.
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed 12 people were killed in a press conference late on Sunday.
Up to 29 injured people, including two police officers, have been taken to various hospitals in Sydney.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese the shooting, which has been confirmed as an act of terrorism.
‘This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah – which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith,’ he said.’An act of evil antisemitism, terrorism, that has struck the heart of our nation.
‘An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.’
Akram was shot, arrested and remains in custody, where he is being treated by emergency services. The second gunman has been shot dead.
Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg is being raided by police. His family has owned the property for a year.
Specialist officers were called to the scene at Bondi Beach as people on the beach fled
It was also confirmed late on Sunday evening that a number of suspicious items had been found in the vicinity of the incident, including an improvised explosive device. The items are being examined by specialist officers.
The firearms appeared to be semi-automatic, with magazines seen scattered on the ground. Police are examining a suspected IED bomb at the scene.
Video obtained by the Daily Mail shows a heroic man creeping up behind one of the gunmen via the carpark at the north end of the beach, and then wrestling him to the ground. The hero then waves a rifle in the man’s face. The gunman then walks away and the hero drops the rifle.
A witness told Daily Mail: ‘These men pulled over their car put a black flag with an emblem on the windshield then walked over the footbridge and started firing.’
Tim Hamilton was with friends in North Bondi when he thought he heard a car backfiring but ‘more violent than that, like a little bit louder’.
Vaughan is covering the men’s Ashes, with England, who he captained between 2003 and 2008, 2-0 down in the five match series.
The third match starts on Wednesday.
