Bondi gunmen threw explosives at start of attack and practised shooting weeks before, police allege

Suspected gunmen in the Bondi Beach attack threw explosives at the start of the deadly incident and had practiced shooting for weeks before planning the attack, new court documents show.

On December 14, 15 people died and dozens were injured when two gunmen opened fire during Hanukkah celebrations. According to the documents, the explosives, including the “tennis ball bomb”, did not explode.

Naveed Akram, 24, is charged with 59 crimes, including 15 murders and one terrorism offense. Sajid Akram, the father of the second gunman, was shot and killed by the police at the scene.

The pair “meticulously” planned the attack over several months and visited Bondi for reconnaissance two days before the shooting, documents say.

Last week, a temporary suppression order was issued regarding the release of the police fact sheet to protect the identities of the survivors. It was canceled on Monday and the documents were published with some corrections.

It also details various videos tracking the movements of the alleged gunmen in the months, days and hours before the attack.

A video shot on a mobile phone in October reportedly shows men sitting in front of the flag of the Islamic State group (IS).

Police said the attackers were heard making statements about the reasons for the attack and that they condemned “the actions of ‘Zionists'”.

Naveed Akram was also “recorded to have recited a passage from the Quran in Arabic”.

Police said separate footage from October showed the father and son “conducting firearms training in a rural area” believed to be in New South Wales. Authorities added that they were seen “firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner.”

CCTV footage from the evening of December 12 is said to show two men “believed to be the defendant and his father” in their car next to Bondi Beach.

In the document, “It is seen that the defendant and his father S. Akram got out of the vehicle and walked along the pedestrian bridge, where they went two days later and shot at the people.” The statement is included.

“Police claim this is evidence of discovery and planning of a terrorist act.”

At around 02:00 (15:00 GMT) on the day of the attack, two men were caught on CCTV leaving rented accommodation in the Sydney suburb of Campsie “carrying long, large items wrapped in blankets” and placing them in a car.

The documents state that these include two single-barreled shotguns, a Beretta rifle, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two ISIS flags.

Police said the men were seen leaving the rented flat shortly after 5pm (0800 GMT). Separate footage shows them arriving in Bondi at 18:50 (09:50 GMT), parking and placing flags on the inside of the front and rear windows.

They then appear to remove the firearms and IEDs from the car before walking toward the pedestrian bridge, according to the documents.

Police believe he threw explosives – three pipe bombs and a “tennis ball bomb” – towards the crowd from this location, but none detonated.

Police said they soon used their firearms to fire into the crowd. 14 people died at the scene. Another died later from their injuries in hospital.

Sajid Akram was shot and killed during a shootout with New South Wales Police officers.

Naveed Akram was seriously injured as a result of police fire. He was discharged from the hospital and transferred to prison on Monday.

The attack on Bondi Beach sparked calls for tougher restrictions on gun ownership and greater efforts to protect the Jewish community from rising antisemitism.

On Monday, the state of New South Wales recalled its parliament to debate a raft of new gun and protest laws proposed in the wake of the shooting.

Some civil rights groups and pro-gun advocates expressed concerns He said the laws would place excessive restrictions on firearms and protests.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said some may think the changes “go too far” but they are needed to keep the community safe.