Overview
- Australian Federal Police said the father and son accused of the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach massacre are believed to have acted alone, with no evidence of a broader terrorist cell as inquiries continue into their trip to Davao in the Philippines.
- Seventeen families of victims released an open letter urging a Commonwealth royal commission to examine the rise of antisemitism and alleged policing, intelligence and policy failures linked to the attack.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected a federal royal commission and set an independent review led by Dennis Richardson to assess federal agencies and recommend changes by April.
- Authorities outlined tougher responses including a nationwide gun buyback and hate-speech measures, while New South Wales introduced tighter firearm and protest restrictions and will deploy heavily armed police with a planned minute of silence during Sydney’s New Year’s Eve events.
- One gunman, Sajid Akram, was killed by police and his son Naveed remains in custody facing 15 murder charges and terrorism offenses, as bystander Ahmed al Ahmed received national praise, more than A$2.5 million in donations and prospective honors after disarming a shooter.