The Bondi Beach attack has exposed false Indian and Afghan propaganda against Pakistan. After the tragic incident, several Indian and Afghan media entities and social media accounts accused a Pakistani’s involvement in this attack.
The platforms allegedly attempted to falsely link the attackers to Pakistan by circulating fake images and unverified claims. Consequently, misinformation spread rapidly across social media within hours of the incident.
The allegations relied on fabricated videos, altered photographs, and misleading data. However, no credible international media outlet or Australian authority has supported these claims. Officials and independent analysts have since rejected the assertions as false and politically motivated.
Details of the Bondi Beach Attack
Australian police confirmed that at least 16 people were killed and 42 others injured when Sajid Akram and his son opened fire at a Hanukkah event. The shooting occurred on Sunday evening at Bondi Beach, one of Sydney’s most popular tourist locations. As a result, authorities declared the incident a terrorist attack and launched a nationwide security review.
Police said the victims included men, women, and children attending the religious celebration. Emergency responders arrived within minutes and transported the injured to nearby hospitals, where several remain in critical condition.
Official Clarification on Suspects’ Backgrounds
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke addressed speculation surrounding the attackers’ origins and immigration status. He confirmed that Sajid Akram arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998. Later, authorities converted the visa into a partner visa in 2001. Since then, Akram had held a resident return visa.
Burke also clarified that Sajid’s son, Naveed Akram, is an Australian citizen born in 2001. He stressed that the suspects had no verified links to Pakistan or any foreign state. Therefore, officials urged the public to rely on confirmed information rather than online rumors.
Innocent Individual Falsely Identified
Amid the spread of misinformation, a Sydney-based man named Sheikh Naveed released a video statement after social media users wrongly linked his photographs to the attack. In the video, he categorically denied any involvement and condemned the false accusations.
Sheikh Naveed said he has lived in Sydney since 2018 and completed his higher education in Australia. Additionally, he explained that he currently runs a rental business and has no connection to the suspects or the incident. He also expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their families.
Appeal Against Online Propaganda
Sheikh Naveed stated that certain social media accounts falsely associated him with the shooting solely due to a similar name. He said individuals took his photograph from Facebook and misrepresented him as one of the attackers. Therefore, he urged the public not to fall for propaganda being circulated by Indian-linked accounts.
He appealed to users to report misleading posts to prevent further harm. Meanwhile, authorities continue to monitor online platforms as part of broader efforts to counter disinformation following the tragedy.
