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A former coworker of one of the Bondi Beach attackers shared with an international media outlet that Naveed Akram’s ethnicity is Indian.
In an interview with A Current Affair, Lachie, a former colleague, said he recognized Akram immediately when he saw his photo online.
Discussing Akram’s personal background, the former coworker explained: “Yeah, his background is Indian and Italian… his mom’s Italian, and his dad’s Indian.”
A father and son opened fire during a Jewish festival at Australia’s most popular beach on Sunday evening, resulting in 15 fatalities, including a child, and injuring 42 others.
The former coworker stated he was scrolling through social media when he saw the image. “Shock, disbelief — genuine shock,” he recalled. “I couldn’t believe that someone I spent time with every workday could commit such cruelty.”
He emphasized that regardless of the motive, the attack was unjustifiable. “Whatever the reasons behind it, it’s just wrong. And for what?” he questioned.
The ex-colleague said he worked with Akram intermittently for about five years in construction. “Probably on and off for about five years, mostly as a bricklayer,” he added.
He noted that Akram’s behavior showed no signs of potential violence. “You wouldn’t think it. But that’s him,” he remarked.
Officials have condemned the attack as terror-related, though they haven’t officially identified the shooters—one who was killed on scene and the other hospitalized.
However, Australia’s national broadcaster ABC stated that the alleged attacker was Naveed Akram from Bonnyrigg, a suburb in western Sydney, citing an unnamed official. Local media also reported police raids at his residence.
According to reports, Naveed was detained at the scene and transported to the hospital, where he remains under police supervision in critical but stable condition. His father, Sajid, reportedly owned a fruit shop and died at the scene.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed Sajid arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted to a partner visa in 2001. He also holds a resident return visa. Burke added that Naveed, born in 2001, is an Australian citizen.
Family members had initially told relatives they were heading to the South Coast for fishing, with Verena, Naveed’s mother, saying he had gone to Jervis Bay with his dad for the weekend and last contacted them Sunday morning.
‘Terrified’ Sydney man misidentified as Bondi gunman
A Sydney resident, wrongly identified as the gunman, recounted receiving death threats and feeling too afraid to leave his home on Monday after his photo circulated widely online.
Images of a smiling man in a green Pakistan cricket jersey spread across social media platforms.
Many of these posts were shared thousands of times, accompanied by hostile comments.
The photo was taken from a Facebook profile belonging to a different Naveed Akram, who issued a video appeal on Monday through the Pakistan Consulate in Sydney, urging people to stop spreading misinformation.
“According to media reports, one of the shooters is named Naveed Akram, but my name is also Naveed Akram,” he stated in the video.
“That’s not me. I have no connection to the incident or the individual involved,” he added, condemning the “horrible” Bondi Beach attack.
“I need everyone’s help to stop this false information,” he urged, asking users to report accounts that misuse his photo, which he shared on Facebook in 2019.
‘Life-threatening’
The 30-year-old, residing in a northwest Sydney suburb, told AFP he first learned around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday that he had been falsely linked to the shooting.
“I couldn’t even sleep last night,” Akram admitted, saying he deleted numerous hateful messages he received.
“I’m terrified. I can’t go outside; it feels life-threatening. I don’t want to take any risks… my family is worried as well, so this has been a tough time for us.”
He asked the Pakistan Consulate to release his video, as relatives in Punjab, Pakistan, also received numerous phone calls.
“It was damaging my reputation and my family’s reputation,” he explained.
“People were calling them. They were worried, and they even contacted police back home.”
Originally from Pakistan, he moved to Australia in 2018 to study at Central Queensland University, later completing a master’s at Sydney’s Holmes Institute.
Today, he owns a car rental business and expressed his love for Australia.
“I really enjoy living here. I’ve never felt unsafe—everyone is so friendly,” Akram said.
“It’s just this incident that’s caused me so much trauma.”
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