DID Press: Several Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, strongly condemned a deadly terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community at Bondi Beach in Sydney, which resulted in multiple casualties.
The attack occurred on Sunday and left several people killed and injured, prompting widespread international reactions and expressions of solidarity with Australia.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the attack, saying: “The Kingdom strongly denounces the terrorist attack in Sydney that led to the death and injury of civilians and extends its condolences to the government and people of Australia.”
The United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, and Iran released separate statements similarly condemning the shooting and stressing the importance of confronting extremism and all forms of violence targeting civilians.
Meanwhile, ABC News Australia reported that the country’s domestic intelligence agency had placed one of the attackers under surveillance in 2019 due to his close ties with an ISIS-affiliated cell. According to a senior official from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, an ISIS flag was discovered inside the attacker’s vehicle.
Mal Lanyon, Commissioner of the New South Wales Police, identified Navid Akram, one of the two attackers, as a 24-year-old Pakistani national and Sydney resident. He said that Akram remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition after sustaining severe injuries during the attack.
Police confirmed that Sajid Akram, the father of the suspect, was killed during the incident.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “evil, terrorist, and antisemitic,” stressing that the Australian government will not allow hatred and violence to undermine national security or social cohesion.
Security and judicial investigations into the attack remain ongoing.