The alleged gunmen are pictured leaving their Campsie Airbnb in the hours before the attack. Photo / 9News
Investigations into the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack, which has claimed 16 lives including the shooter, and left at least 40 injured, continue as the national debate on gun control and ownership heats up.
Horrific scenes unfolded at the iconic Aussie destination on Sunday night when father and son gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire on bystanders.
Sajid, 50, was shot dead by police while Naveed, 24, was injured and taken into custody at the scene.
The death toll from the attack has risen to 15 innocent victims with a 10-year-old girl among those killed.
Twelve people are fighting for life, with a total of 26 people in hospitals across Sydney.
Grim CCTV has captured the moment the Akrams left their Campsie Airbnb in the hours before the attack.
In the footage, obtained by 9News and the Sydney Morning Herald, they can be seen leaving the room about 5.15pm on Sunday, before making the trip over to Bondi Beach.
The pair were paying about A$90 ($103) a night for the rental.
Authorities are now probing the father and son duo’s trip to the Philippines – where Isis East Asia has a known presence – a month before the shooting.
The Daily Telegraph reports they had allegedly “self-radicalised” but authorities are still probing whether other overseas influences had swayed their views.
The Philippines is ranked the 20th most dangerous nation in the world on the Global Terrorism Index.
Smartraveller currently urges people to exercise a “high” degree of caution in the Philippines because of the potential threat of terrorism and violent crime.
A man who rushed one of the wounded gunmen, and was later mistakenly shot at by police, is a Middle Eastern refugee who showed “extraordinary courage”, his immigration lawyer says.
The man approached the gunman – who had collapsed on the floor – and kicked away the weapon.
He is seen raising his hands in the air, saying “don’t shoot”, before members of the public mistake him for the attacker and begin kicking him.
Eventually, he is released by both the police and community members after the confusion.
His lawyer Alison Battisson told NewsWire the unarmed man ran towards the gunshots because of a “gut reaction”.
“He stepped out of a car, a taxi, heard the shots and just ran, it was a gut reaction,” she said.
“Having a military background, he assumed the shooter had to reload, so he didn’t blindly run towards him, but waited for the right time.”
The “quite extraordinary” man – whose identity has been withheld for his safety – escaped the authoritative regimen of his country of origin, where he was tortured for standing up against the government, Battisson says.
He was recognised by the UNHCR as a refugee and came to Australia a decade ago.
His pregnant wife and two children are all Australian citizens, but he still lives in the country on a temporary visa.
“He cried all Sunday night,” Battisson said.
Sunday’s attack has reignited national debate about gun ownership and prompted urgent action from national Cabinet – with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convening a meeting to strengthen gun laws across the country.
Under the new laws, state police ministers and attorneys-general will be commissioned to develop options to limit the number of firearms that can be held by any one individual.
Options include accelerating their work on a National Firearms Register and allowing additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licensing.
Under the proposals, only one firearm could be held per individual and the licensing for open-ended firearms would be limited.
People looking to obtain firearm licences would also need to hold Australian citizenship.
Family and friends of those slain in the horror attack have issued heartbreaking tributes as multiple others still fight for life in hospital.
Three patients are in a stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital.
One patient is in a critical condition, and two patients are in a stable condition at St George Hospital.
One patient is in a stable condition at Sydney Eye Hospital.
Three patients are in a critical condition and two patients are in a critical but stable condition at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Three patients are in a critical condition, two patients are in a critical but stable condition and one patient is stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Three patients are in a stable condition at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
One patient is in a critical but stable condition and two patients are in a stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Two patients are in a stable condition at Liverpool Hospital.
French soccer player Dan Elkayam has been identified as one of those killed, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying his thoughts were with the man’s loved ones.
Rabbis Eli Schlanger, the head of the Chabad mission in Bondi, and Yaakov Levitan, the secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, are among those who have died.
Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, grandfather Reuven Morrison, photographer Peter Meagher and grandmother Marika Pogany, 82, have also died.
Police confirmed a 10-year-old girl was among those killed.
Probationary constable Jack Hibbert and constable Scott Dyson were both injured responding to the attack – with 9 News reporting Hibbert may lose vision in his eye.
Both remain in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“The families of the two injured officers wish to pass on their thoughts to the loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the Bondi shooting tragedy,” the families of both officers said in a statement, issued by NSW Police.
“They also want to express their heartfelt gratitude to all first responders who acted with courage, in particular the police officers and paramedics who responded. They also wish to thank their hospital team, and especially those in ICU.
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