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Bondi Beach shooter identified: Cops' big update on Sydney mass shooting case
It was earlier reported that one of the two shooters was killed and another one was critically injured.
The Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney's Bondi Beach where hundreds had gathered on Sunday turned tragic after two gunmen opened fire and left at least 11 dead. One of the two suspects has been shot dead and another is said to be critically injured. The police said that explosives were found in a car at the Bondi Beach as they are examining several suspicious material in the vicinity of the attack.
Track updates on Bondi Beach shooting here
Australia's ABC news quoted anonymous police officials saying that one of the two suspects has been identified as Naveed Akram, though it is not clear if Akram is the one who was shot dead or the one critically injured.
The report added that Akram's home in Bonnyrigg was raided by police following the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach.
What has the police said on the suspects?
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said one of the shooters was known to authorities, but clarified that “the person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police”, ABC Australia reported.
“So he’s not someone that we would have automatically been looking at at this time,” he said.
The police statement comes even as the internet was flooded with claims linking Akram's nationality and his social media profiles.
However, the Australian top cop said no stone will be left unturned to investigate the case, adding that the police would not release any information about the gunmen. "This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty," Lanyon said at a press conference.
While the cops also suspected a third gunman involved in the case, it said that the same cannot be confirmed as the probe is underway.
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The head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Mike Burgess said he was looking into the identities of the attackers and if there was anyone else in the community "with similar intent".
Asked whether any of the shooters were on ASIO watchlists, Burgess said: "One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here."
The police also said it found an improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender., adding that the incident has been declared a terrorist attack.
In a statement, they said several suspicious items found in the area are being examined by specialist officers, and an exclusion zone has been established.
