SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — New South Wales officials revealed Tuesday that administrative errors, not security red flags, caused a three-year delay in approving a gun license for Sajid Akram, the suspect in the deadly Bondi Beach massacre. Akram applied in 2000 but waited until 2003—far beyond the usual six-to-10 weeks—due to bureaucratic confusion. This allowed him to legally acquire six rifles and shotguns, despite his son Naveed facing a 2019 ASIO probe for extremist ties, which authorities deemed non-threatening and overlooked in licensing.
The December 14 attack during a Hanukkah event killed 15 and wounded dozens, with Akram dying in a police shootout. Critics decry poor intel-sharing between agencies, fueling demands for reform. In response, lawmakers propose strict new gun laws: mandating citizenship for licenses, capping recreational owners at four firearms, and farmers/sports shooters at 10. A royal commission will probe the incident, including rising antisemitism since 2023, to fix systemic flaws.