Bondi Beach terror Naveed Akram suspect studied at a Sydney Islamic center

One of the terror suspects in the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre is believed to have studied religion at an Islamic center in Australia that has ties to other Muslim-run organizations in the country.Naveed Akram, 24, who allegedly opened fire on thousands of Jews celebrating Hanukkah, was tagged in a February 2022 social media post praising him for mastering “all the rules of tajweed” — the recitation of laws of the Quran — at the Al-Murad Institute outside Sydney.“Another one of my dear students, Naveed Akram, passing the Iqra books and tajweed this morning, perfecting his all the rules of tajweed,” Adam Ismail, head of the institute, said in the since-deleted Facebook post.The post showed the pair smiling at the camera in what appeared to be a library, as Akram proudly held up his certificate.The ABC reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) — the country’s FBI — previously investigated Akram in 2019 for possible terror ties.ASIO also believed that Akram and his father Sajid, 50, pledged allegiance to ISIS before the attack, and found terrorism investigators found an ISIS flag in their vehicle, the public broadcaster reported, citing sources.

Al-Murad Institute has since wiped its website and social media accounts.Ismail said he lost contact with his former student in early 2022 and now claims the deadly shooting has triggered death treats, forcing him and his family to flee their home, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.“I am devastated by the images of the victims in Bondi,” he told the newspaper.While running and teaching at the Al-Murad Institute, Ismail also serves as a mentor at 5 Before 5 Solutions, an Australian-based organization that provides counseling and Islamic youth development programs, according to its website.He works in the Youth Refuge and Rehabilitation sector, his profiles says, with individuals “both young and old” experiencing trauma, mental health issues and homelessness.5 Before 5 Sol...