ASIO Knew About Bondi Attacker Since 2019 — But His Father Kept Six Guns
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
One of the men behind the Bondi terror attack had been on Australia’s intelligence agency’s radar for six years because of his “associations,” the Prime Minister revealed — but that surveillance never triggered a review of his father’s license to own six firearms.
What We Learned
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Nabi Akram, the son involved in the Bondi terror attack, first came to ASIO’s attention in October 2019.
“He was examined on the basis of being associated with others,” Albanese said, “and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”
The investigation lasted six months.
What Is ASIO?
ASIO — the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation — is Australia’s domestic spy agency. It monitors national security threats including terrorism, espionage, and violent extremism. When ASIO identifies a person of interest, it can conduct surveillance and investigations, but it doesn’t have powers to arrest people.
The Critical Question
Journalists pushed hard on what appears to be a disconnect: if ASIO was concerned enough about the son to investigate him, why didn’t that trigger any review of his father’s access to firearms?
“Why did ASIO’s interest in Nabi Akram not raise red flags that would prompt a re-evaluation of the father’s license to have six guns?” one journalist asked.
Neither Albanese nor Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke directly answered. Albanese said he had “full support for our security agencies” and that he could only share information that had been cleared for release.
When asked if ASIO had told anyone else about their concerns, Albanese repeated: “I have full support for our security agencies and I’m authorised to give you the information which I have given you.”
What Were the “Associations”?
Albanese and Burke were vague about what exactly concerned ASIO about the son.
Burke said the assessment “was with respect to his associations rather than at that point there being a personal motivation from him.”
When journalists pressed for more detail, Albanese cut them off: “You’re making a whole lot of extra assumptions. We’ve given you the information.”
The specific associations remain classified. The investigation is ongoing.
The Visa History
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke provided the attackers’ background:
The son was an Australian-born citizen.
The father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, transferred to a partner visa in 2001, and has made three trips overseas since, returning each time on resident return visas.
The Ongoing Investigation
A joint counter-terrorism team involving ASIO, the Australian Federal Police, and NSW Police is now investigating the attack. NSW Police is leading.
AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner Nigel Ryan said: “There has been significant police operational activity in the past 12 hours, and this will continue into the days and weeks ahead.”
He added: “I must stress that this is an active and ongoing investigation, and I’m very limited in what I can say.”
Why This Matters
This isn’t the first time questions have been raised about information-sharing between intelligence agencies and police.
Albanese referenced a 2022 incident in Queensland where a terror attack killed police officers, and critical information “wasn’t transferred across state boundaries.”
The government says it has since provided funding to address that gap, but this new case raises questions about whether those fixes went far enough.
What We Don’t Know
Several major questions remain unanswered:
What specific “associations” triggered ASIO’s 2019 interest
Whether ASIO shared their concerns with any other agency
Whether there’s a system for intelligence flags to prompt firearm license reviews
Whether other family members are under investigation
When asked about other family members, Albanese said only: “This is an ongoing investigation. We are not in a position to compromise that ongoing investigation.”
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week’s newsletter.