Bondi Beach shooting: Live updates as first funerals for victims begin, new details emerge on Sajid Akram
Scroll down for all the latest news and updates.
‘Little ray of sunshine’: Matilda’s school tribute
The school attended by 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack, has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the girl they remember as a “little ray of sunshine”.
Matilda was one of the 15 innocent people who tragically lost their lives after two gunmen targeted a Jewish Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach Park on Sunday, December 14.
La Perouse Public School, where Matilda was a student, have described her as the “most kind, caring, and compassionate young girl, who brightened everyone’s day with her radiant smile and infectious laugh.”
They revealed that only last Friday, Matilda was “beaming” after winning a school literacy award.
“Matilda has an incredible gift for bringing joy to those around her,” the post read.
Sajid Akram from southern India, family did not know of ‘radical mindset’
The dead gunmen in Australia’s Bondi Beach shooting, Sajid Akram, was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, police say, but had limited contact with his family in India.
“The family members have expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation,” Telangana State Police said in a statement.
Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana state.
NSW Police said both men had travelled to the Philippines in November, the father on an Indian passport and the son was on an Australian one.
The purpose of the trip is under investigation, officials said, adding it was not conclusive they were linked to any terrorist group or whether they received training in that country.
Telangana Police said the factors that led to the radicalisation of the two gunmen “appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana”.
First funerals for terror victims to be held today
The first funerals for victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack will take place on Wednesday.
A service for Rabbi Eli Schlanger will take place at 11am at Chabad of Bondi. The surrounding road will be shut due to large crowds expected. The service will also be livestreamed.
Later today, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan’s funeral will take place at Macquarie Park Cemetery in North Sydney.
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