Prepped for murder

Duo trained to fire & hurl bombs, say cops

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

THE alleged Bondi Beach gunmen had practised shooting weeks before the "meticulously planned" atrocity, in which they also threw bombs, court papers say.

Sajid Akram, 50, and son Naveed, 24, are accused of murdering 15 people by firing into a 1,000-strong crowd celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

It is now alleged at the start of the attack on December 14 the Akrams threw three pipe bombs and a "tennis ball" explosive device, which were viable but did not explode.

Police said the pair had meticulously planned the terrorist attack for many months.

They also visited the bridge used as a vantage point to fire at the crowd two days before the massacre in Sydney, Australia.

Police said this was evidence of reconnaissance and planning of a terrorist act. A video allegedly showed the pair conducting firearms training in what police believe to be rural New South Wales in October.

Police said: "The accused and his father are seen throughout the video firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner." Sajid Akram was killed by police while his son was critically injured. He has been released from hospital and transferred to prison.

The pair also recorded a video manifesto in October in which they are seen in front of the Islamic State terror group's flag, the files show.

The dossier prepared by New South Wales Police uses CCTV, mobile phone footage and roadside cameras to provide a countdown to the mass murder.