- Sajid Akram reportedly supported IS as early as 2019
- ASIO had previously claimed the Akram’s didn’t pose a terrorist threat
- READ MORE: ASIO puts the ABC on notice
An ex-ASIO spy claims they had raised concerns about Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram voicing support for Islamic State six years before the attack.
Akram, 50, killed 15 people in the December 14 massacre along with his alleged accomplice and son Naveed, who remains behind bars awaiting trial on 59 offences.
Sajid was shot dead by police during the attack.
Despite ASIO stating in the aftermath of the attack that the duo weren’t on the authorities radar, a former undercover agent has now claimed he shared intelligence with the agency that showed the Akrams had been radicalised as early as 2019.
The agent, codenamed ‘Marcus’, told the ABC he provided information to ASIO about Naveed Akram’s links to an Islamic State (IS) cell in Australia, including that IS sympathisers were trying to brainwash him with propaganda videos.
Marcus also claims the group were discussing plans for terrorist attacks in Sydney.
The agent, who was posing as a radical cleric inside a street-preaching group known as Bankstown Street Dawah, was invited to a retreat with Naveed and Sajid in May 2019.
Among the group was Isaac El Matari, the self-declared leader of Islamic State in Australia.
More to come.
A former ASIO agent has claimed Sajid Akram voiced support for Islamic State in 2019