{"id":20358,"date":"2026-02-10T02:54:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T02:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=20358"},"modified":"2026-02-10T02:54:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T02:54:42","slug":"abc-airs-former-asio-agents-claims-that-bondi-shooters-were-radicalised-years-ago-despite-agencys-criticism-bondi-beach-terror-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=20358","title":{"rendered":"ABC airs former Asio agent\u2019s claims that Bondi shooters were radicalised years ago, despite agency\u2019s criticism | Bondi beach terror attack"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The ABC\u2019s Four Corners has broadcast claims by a former undercover agent that father and son terrorists Sajid and Naveed Akram were showing signs of being radicalised years before they killed 15 people at Bondi beach.<\/p>\n

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) assessed Naveed, then 17, over his alleged associations with individuals involved in a Islamic State cell in 2019, but later concluded he was not an ongoing threat.<\/p>\n

The Four Corners investigation into the pair aired on Monday night, despite a highly unusual and pre-emptive claim by Asio<\/a> that the episode contained \u201csignificant errors of fact\u201d. Asio had determined the program\u2019s content based on detailed questions sent by the ABC ahead of broadcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the ABC chooses to publish claims it cannot substantiate \u2013 particularly ones it has been told are untrue \u2013 we will reserve our right to take further action,\u201d Asio said in statement published on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

The ABC confirmed it had not had any contact from Asio since the broadcast and had received no legal threats. Asio has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n

The ABC\u2019s managing director, Hugh Marks, will appear before Senate estimates on Tuesday, where the intervention of Asio ahead of an ABC program was expected to be raised.<\/p>\n

During Monday night\u2019s program, the former agent, known as \u201cMarcus\u201d, claimed that during his time working undercover as a radical cleric he provided Asio with a detailed account of how Naveed associated with an Islamic State cell. Asio has rejected his statements as \u201cunsubstantiated\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The ABC reported that as a teenager Naveed associated with members of a terror cell and acolytes of radical cleric Wisam Haddad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened on Bondi beach was a result of a set of errors and a disregard for information,\u201d Marcus told the ABC.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow [could] someone like this [have] fled out of Asio and Australian authorities\u2019 radar?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marcus told the program that Sajid had voiced support for IS when the pair met in 2019, while the ABC also reported that the father had also expressed admiration for a leading al-Qaida propagandist to another man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter this conversation, I thought Sajid was more extremist than his son,\u201d Marcus said of the 2019 meeting.<\/p>\n

A senior counter-terrorism official with close knowledge of the current investigation told the ABC that Sajid may have already been radicalised when he met with the agency to discuss his son as part of its assessment.<\/p>\n

Sajid was shot dead by police during the 14 December attack. Naveed is in custody, charged with 59 offences.<\/p>\n

Prior to the program airing, Asio described Marcus \u2013 who has since left Australia after a falling out with the agency and is in hiding \u2013 as an unreliable and disgruntled source.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe claims Four Corners is making were investigated at the time and found to be unsubstantiated,\u201d Asio said.<\/p>\n

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