Suspected Bondi shooter’s former Islamic teacher condemns antisemitic attack, says family is ‘harassed with death threats’

An Islamic teacher who went viral after a photograph of him alongside alleged Bondi Beach shooter Naveed Akram resurfaced online has broken his silence, distancing himself from the former student. The teacher, Adam Ismail of the Al-Murad Institute in New South Wales, appeared in a photo shared in February 2022 in which he described Akram as “another one of my dear students”. Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50 (shot dead at the scene), are suspected of carrying out the horrific attack on Jewish people.


According to news.com.au, citing a video message released by Ismail, the Islamic teacher said he had not seen Akram for several years and had only taught him Quran recitation and Arabic language skills. “Naveed approached the centre in late 2019 seeking Quran recitation and Arabic language classes,” Ismail said in the video message. “As I have done with thousands of students over the years, I have taught him Quran recitation and Arabic only, for a combined period of one year.” He added that those were the “only subjects I taught him, and they are the areas I specialise in.” “I condemn this act of violence without any hesitation,” Ismail said.


Also Read: What we know about Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, the father-son duo identified as alleged Bondi Beach shooters who killed 16

Ismail also said his family had received death threats following the circulation of the photograph and reports linking him to the accused gunman. “I am devastated by the images of the victims in Bondi,” Ismail said, according to The Daily Mail, which quoted him citing the video message. “I have a young family and we've been harassed with death threats. We've had to evacuate our home and have needed police assistance, for which we are very thankful.”

Authorities have confirmed that at least 16 people have died in the Bondi Beach shooting, including gunman Sajid Akram. A further 42 people, including four children, were taken to hospital. Police said 14 people died at the scene, while two others later died in hospital. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old. Naveed Akram remains in hospital under police guard after being shot by officers during the incident.