Pakistan-origin man living in Sydney falsely identified as Bondi Beach gunman fears his life is in danger: report

A Pakistan-origin man living in Sydney, who was falsely linked to the mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday, has said that he fears his life is in danger and that he is afraid to leave his house, according to a report by Australia’s SBS News.

On Sunday, two gunmen had opened fire at a Hanukkah gathering in Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 in Australia’s worst incident of gun violence since 1996. Police have not yet disclosed the names of the suspects, who happen to be father and son, or their motives. However, various news outlets identified them as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, respectively.

The father first came to Australia in 1998 on a student visa, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told reporters on Monday. He was killed at the scene. His son — an Australian-born citizen according to the home affairs minister — is critically injured and being treated in a Sydney hospital bed under police guard. The minister, however, did not identify share details regarding the identities of the father-son duo.

Meanwhile, according to SBS News, a separate man who reportedly has the name as the son, has issued a plea for help on social media after his photos were linked to reports of the attack.

According to the report, the man in question runs his own business and arrived in Australia in 2018.

“As per media reports, one of the shooters, his name is Naveed Akram. My name is also Naveed Akram. Unfortunately, our names are the same,” the report quoted him as saying in a video posted on X.

“I just want you to know that that person is a different person,” he added.

“That is not me, and I have nothing to do with that incident or that person,” Akram said as he condemned the shooting. He further said that this “propaganda” was being spread through “Indian accounts”.

He appealed to people to report instances of his photos being linked to the shooting, adding that he was “stressed and scared”.

“I really need your help because this is a life-threatening event and there can be many issues that can arise from this,” he was quoted as saying.

“I can’t even go outside safely,” he added.

Additional input from AFP