The father and son accused of carrying out Australia’s worst terror attack undertook firearms training at an undisclosed location in the countryside, according to an alleged statement of facts released by a magistrate Monday.
The court document, which contains redactions, includes images from a video of Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, depicting the pair holding rifles and moving in a way that suggests an element of tactical training.
“The accused and his father are seen throughout the video firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner,” the document states.
Fifteen people were killed in the shooting at Bondi Beach on December 14, which authorities said targeted a crowd of Jewish families celebrating Hannukah. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. His son faces a terror charge and 15 counts of murder, along with 40 of attempted murder.
The alleged facts state the pair threw four improvised devices at the crowd, moments before they started shooting, though none of them detonated. The document states the three pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb were all viable.
Police allege the shooters packed an IED in the trunk of their vehicle. – New South Wales Police
Three pipe bombs and tennis ball bomb were allegedly found at the scene. – New South Wales Police
Images of the IEDs were included in document, including a fifth suspected bomb placed in the trunk of the vehicle they used to drive to Bondi to carry out the attack.
The pair are also alleged to have recorded videos in which they shared views suggesting they adhered to “religiously motivated violent extremism ideology.”
In one video recorded in front of an image of the Islamic State flag, the pair made statements “condemning the acts of Zionists” and appeared to “summarise their justification for the Bondi terrorist attack,” the document added.
“There is evidence that the Accused and his father… meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months,” the document said.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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