Chief Imam Urges Finish to Radicalization After Bondi Seashore Terror Assault

Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, on Monday strongly condemned the lethal terror assault at Australia’s Bondi Seashore, calling it a ‘tragic and inhuman act’ and asserting that such violence has no place in Islam.

“No quantity of condemnation is sufficient for this incident. Harmless individuals have been killed. The killers have been devils, however the one who tried to save lots of them was a Muslim. Islam is the identify of saving lives, not taking them,” Ilyasi mentioned, stressing that extremism should be confronted straight. He additionally warned towards the rising misuse of faith for violence, saying, “Immediately, radicalisation is occurring within the identify of Islam, and terrorist organisations are working within the identify of Islam. So now the time has come to finish radicalisation, to eradicate terrorism utterly.”

The Chief Imam introduced that particular prayers will likely be held throughout India to honour the victims. “Because the Chief Imam, on behalf of all of the 5.5 lakh mosques in India, on the approaching Friday, we’ll pray for the peace of the souls of the harmless individuals who have been killed. Humanity is our best faith,” he mentioned.

Australian authorities have confirmed that the dying toll has risen to 16, with no less than 40 injured individuals hospitalised, together with two cops and 4 youngsters. The assault happened on Sunday night round 6:30 PM (native time) throughout Chanukah occasion, a gathering marking the primary day of the Jewish pageant of Hanukkah. 

Two gunmen, a father-son duo, opened fireplace constantly on the gang. One gunman, who was captured first by a courageous civilian, was shot lifeless by police on the scene, whereas the second was arrested and is in vital situation on the hospital. Amongst these killed are a 12-year-old woman, a 10-year-old youngster, a rabbi who was a father of 5, and a Holocaust survivor who, in response to reviews, was killed whereas shielding his spouse from gunfire. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.

A witness alleged that the attackers have been capturing constantly and claimed police didn’t fireplace again for almost 20 minutes. 

New South Wales Police mentioned the Bondi Seashore space stays sealed, aerial exercise has been restricted, and forensic examination is underway. Explosive gadgets present in a close-by car have been safely secured and eliminated, together with affirmation {that a} third IED was recovered from the crime scene.

Authorities have formally declared the capturing a terrorist act and described it as a focused act of antisemitism towards Jewish Australians. New South Wales Police mentioned that the Bondi Seashore space stays sealed, aerial exercise has been restricted, and forensic examination is underway. Explosive gadgets present in a automotive, which was utilized by the shooters, have been safely secured and eliminated, together with affirmation {that a} third IED was recovered from the crime scene.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the capturing as an ‘act of terrorism’, and ‘a focused act of antisemitism’. 

“What we noticed yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores, in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Seashore, that is related to pleasure, related to households gathering, related to celebrations and it’s endlessly tarnished by what has occurred final night. This was an assault intentionally focused on the Jewish group on the primary day of Hanukkah, which in fact ought to be a joyous celebration and the Jewish group are hurting right now. Immediately all Australians wrap our arms round them and say ‘we stand with you.’ We are going to do no matter is important to stamp out antisemitism. It’s a scourge and we’ll eradicate it collectively,” he mentioned. PM Albanese additional signalled plans to tighten gun legal guidelines, together with closing dates on licences.

Amid the horror, 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a Sydney resident, was hailed as a Hero after he wrestled a rifle from one of many attackers. He was shot twice within the arm and hand and is presently present process remedy after surgical procedure.

His proud father, Mohamed Fateh Al Ahmed, known as his son a Hero and mentioned that he acted on intuition to save lots of lives. “Thank God. When he did what he did, he wasn’t considering in any respect concerning the background of the individuals he’s saving, the individuals dying on the street. He doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and one other, particularly right here in Australia there’s no distinction between one citizen and one other. He has an Australian citizenship, and thank God he defended the harmless individuals,” he mentioned, including that leaders worldwide, together with the Australian Prime Minister and even former US President Donald Trump, praised his bravery. 

Hailing his bravery, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday mentioned, “We’ll dedicate each single useful resource that’s required in responding to this. To the courageous responders, first responders, and atypical residents who acted yesterday, thanks for what you do. Folks speeding in the direction of hazard to point out the perfect of the Australian character, that is who we’re, individuals who arise for our values.” 

Investigators have recognized each the gunmen as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, initially from Lahore, Pakistan. Naveed Akram got here below police radar six years in the past in 2019 for his hyperlinks to a Sydney-based ISIS cell, and Australian intelligence companies had examined his suspected ISIS connections. Though the police again then did not contemplate him an ‘instant menace’.

Naveed’s 50-year-old father, who held a leisure searching licence, was killed on the scene. As per the police, each had joined ISIS earlier than the assault.

Searches have been carried out at residences linked to the gunmen in Bonnyrigg and Campsie, the place arms and ammunition have been recovered, together with two firearms from Naveed’s residence. In whole, three firearms and two IEDs have been recovered. An ISIS flag was discovered within the automotive utilized by the duo. Investigative officers imagine the Bondi Seashore mass capturing was a part of an even bigger assault which was deliberate. An in depth probe analyzing a Pakistan hyperlink to the assault has been initiated.