Bondi terror attack updates: Indian police say gunman Sajid Akram was from Hyderabad and family had ‘no knowledge’ of his radicalisation | Australia news

Sajid Akram, the alleged gunman shot dead by police during Sunday’s attack on Bondi beach, was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad and his family did not know about his “radical mindset”, Indian police said overnight, as reported by Reuters news wire.

In a statement providing more details about the man alleged to have carried out the attack with his son, police in the southern Indian state of Telangana said Sajid Akram, 50, had got a degree in commerce in Hyderabad, the large and bustling tech and pharma hub that is the state capital.

Akram then moved to Australia in November 1998 to find work and married a woman described as of European origin, with whom he had a son and a daughter.

He went back to India six times for family-related reasons such as property matters and to visit his parents but did not return when his father died, the police statement said.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be your morning blogger with the main action.

Police said overnight that Sajid Akram, the older of the two alleged Bondi gunmen, was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. However, police said Akram had limited contact with his family in India who “knew nothing” about his radicalisation. More in a moment.

It was another night of intense emotion in Bondi as hundreds gathered to mourn the victims, whose named were read out by a rabbi. The focal point was the grief of the parents of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim. More to come.