A Pakistan-origin man living in Sydney has said he fears for his life after social media users falsely linked him to the deadly Bondi Beach shooting. According to Australia’s SBS News, the man has gone into self-imposed isolation and is afraid to leave his home following online threats and harassment.
The fear emerged after two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. The attack killed 15 people and marked Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996. Authorities described the incident as a major act of violence, prompting nationwide security alerts.
Suspects and Official Information
Australian police have not officially released the names of the suspects or their motive. However, several media outlets identified the attackers as a father and son named Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The reports triggered confusion and misinformation across social media platforms.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told reporters on Monday that the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa. Later, authorities converted his status, and he remained in the country legally. Police shot and killed him at the scene. Burke also confirmed that the son is an Australian-born citizen who remains critically injured in a Sydney hospital under police guard.
Despite these confirmations, the minister did not formally disclose the identities of the suspects. Nevertheless, unverified claims continued to circulate online, linking unrelated individuals to the attack.
Innocent Man Wrongly Identified
According to SBS News, a separate Sydney resident with the same name as the suspected shooter appealed for help after his photographs appeared alongside reports of the attack. The man, who runs his own business, arrived in Australia in 2018 and has no connection to the incident.
In a video shared on X, he explained the situation and denied any involvement. He said that media reports named one of the shooters as Naveed Akram, which led people to mistakenly associate him with the crime.
“I just want you to know that that person is a different person,” he said in the video. He stressed that he had nothing to do with the attack or the individuals involved. He also condemned the shooting and expressed sympathy for the victims.
Fear, Stress, and Appeal for Help
The man told SBS News that the false accusations had caused severe stress and fear. He said he believed his life was in danger because of the misinformation spreading online. As a result, he said he felt unsafe leaving his house. He claimed that some of the propaganda originated from Indian social media accounts. He urged people to report posts that misuse his photographs or link him to the shooting. He warned that such false narratives could lead to serious consequences.
“This is a life-threatening event,” he said, adding that many issues could arise from unchecked online claims. Meanwhile, authorities continue to urge the public to rely on verified information as investigations into the Bondi Beach attack continue.
