The mother of a young man who carried out a deadly terror attack in Sydney has expressed disbelief, describing her son as a 'good boy' incapable of such violence. This comes after a shooting rampage at a Hanukkah celebration left 16 people dead and many more injured.
A Mother's Heartbreak and Denial
Verena, the mother of 24-year-old Naveed Akram, spoke to media on Monday, December 15, 2025, as police surrounded the family home in Bonnyrigg, western Sydney. "Anyone would wish to have a son like my son … he’s a good boy," she said, struggling to reconcile the image of her son with the perpetrator of a horrific crime.
She revealed that Naveed, an unemployed bricklayer, had lost his job about two months prior when his company became insolvent. Describing him as a quiet young man who was not particularly social, Verena said he loved outdoor activities like fishing, scuba diving, swimming, and exercising. She insisted he did not spend excessive time online.
The family, including Naveed's father Sajid Akram (a fruiterer), his younger sister (22), and brother (20), had recently moved into a three-bedroom property in Bonnyrigg in 2024, having previously lived in Cabramatta.
The Path to a Deadly Rampage
On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Naveed and his father, Sajid, told their family they were going on a fishing trip to Jervis Bay. In reality, the pair had just returned from a trip to the Philippines and were staying in a short-term rental room in Campsie.
Verena recounted a phone call from her son that Sunday afternoon where he claimed to have been swimming and scuba diving, planning to stay in because of the heat. Less than 90 minutes after that call, the first shots were fired at Bondi Beach.
CCTV footage shows Sajid and then Naveed leaving their Campsie rental around 5:15 pm. Naveed, dressed in black, was seen adjusting something in the back of a silver hatchback before driving the 40-minute journey east to Archer Park at Bondi Beach.
There, father and son opened fire on a crowd gathered for a Hanukkah event. Their attack left 16 people dead and scores injured. Police responding to the scene shot and killed Sajid. Naveed was also shot and remains in a critical condition in hospital, though sources indicate he is showing signs of survival.
Investigating Terror Links and Aftermath
Police investigations took a serious turn with the discovery of a black Islamic State flag and improvised explosive devices in the attackers' car. Authorities are probing potential links to the Islamic State of East Asia (ISEA), a branch proscribed as a terrorist group by Australia since 2017.
The recent trip to the Philippines, described by multiple police sources as a known breeding ground for Islamic extremism, is a key focus. The Australian Federal Police will investigate the details and purpose of their November visit.
Police recovered four weapons at the Bondi scene and later seized two more from the rented room in Campsie. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke provided details on the family's immigration status, noting Sajid arrived in 1998 on a student visa and later obtained residency. Naveed was born in Australia.
As the community reels from the tragedy, the stark contrast between a mother's loving perception and the brutal actions of her son adds a deeply personal layer to this national security incident.
