In a troubling revelation, Australian authorities conducted a six-month inquiry into one of the Bondi Beach attackers, Naveed Akram, due to his ties with ISIS.
Despite this scrutiny, officials concluded he posed no threat and permitted his household to retain six firearms. This decision has come under intense scrutiny following the tragic events at Bondi Beach.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) initiated an investigation into Akram, then 24, in October 2019. This probe was linked to his association with Isaac el Matari, who had been apprehended for orchestrating a terrorist plot as the self-declared leader of ISIS in Australia, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Matari was a member of an ISIS cell in Australia, which included several Sydney men convicted of terrorist activities, all of whom were closely connected to Akram, according to ABC.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the investigation, stating that ASIO found no ongoing threat. However, authorities now suspect that both Akram and his father, Sajid, had sworn allegiance to ISIS. Two ISIS flags were discovered in their vehicle near the attack site, with one prominently displayed on the car's hood.
Australia's stringent gun laws, which require gun owners to provide a "genuine reason" for ownership and undergo rigorous background checks, failed to prevent Sajid Akram from legally possessing six firearms. These weapons were used in the attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to 40 others. The country's gun regulations, enacted in 1996 following a mass shooting in Tasmania, do not recognize self-defense as a valid reason for gun ownership.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Albanese pledged to introduce even stricter gun laws. His proposed measures include limiting the number of firearms an individual can own and periodically reviewing gun licenses. However, Albanese faced criticism for his statement following the anti-Semitic attack, which failed to mention Jews or anti-Semitism.
This oversight has drawn ire, particularly given his recent recognition of a Palestinian state, a decision that President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned could embolden Hamas and its allies after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel.
The Bondi Beach tragedy has reignited debates over national security and gun control, highlighting the challenges of balancing individual freedoms with public safety. As Australia grapples with these issues, the need for effective measures to prevent future attacks remains paramount.
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