Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza has been identified by Australian media as the officer who helped stop the Bondi Beach massacre. Verified footage shows Barraza, reportedly armed only with a handgun, firing from about 45 metres and fatally wounding one attacker during a rampage that left at least 15 people dead. The surviving suspect was arrested and charged with 54 offences, including terrorism and multiple counts of murder. Authorities are investigating possible Islamic State inspiration and will review police equipment and event deployments.
Detective Praised After Footage Shows How Bondi Beach Massacre Was Stopped
Sajid Akram and the shooter alleged to be Naveed Akram can be seen carrying out their antisemitic attack from the footbridge. - X/@Sm137023
Australian media have identified the police officer widely praised for helping end the Bondi Beach massacre as Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza. Newly verified video of the attack shows how the assault unfolded and how officers — including Barraza, reportedly armed only with a service handgun — engaged the gunmen.
What the Footage Shows
Multiple social-media clips, verified by news organisations, capture the six-minute span of the attack from different angles. The videos show two men standing on a footbridge beside Campbell Parade, firing rifles and shotguns toward families gathered for the first night of Hanukkah. Dashcam footage also captures bystanders who were among the first victims after attempting to confront the attackers.
Key Moments
At one point an attendee, Ahmed Al Ahmed, tackles one of the gunmen and wrestles a rifle away. The suspect then returns to the bridge and rejoins the other attacker. In background footage, a man in a light shirt and black tie moves to a defensive position near a tree, aims and fires. Australian outlets report that man was Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza, who is believed to have fatally shot 50-year-old Sajid Akram from about 45 metres (roughly 150 feet) away. Ballistic analysis is ongoing to confirm which shots were fired by which officers.
Sajid Akram can be seen on the bridge as the officer named as Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barazza takes aim from near a tree. - X/@Sm137023/@ConservativeeAu
Casualties, Charges and Investigation
Authorities say at least 15 people were killed. Police and attackers fired more than 100 rounds in total, according to analysis of a roughly 10-minute clip. The surviving suspect, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was arrested, taken to hospital in critical condition and later charged with 54 offences, including committing a terrorist act and 15 counts of murder.
Investigators say the pair appeared motivated by extremist ideology linked to Islamic State and are probing a recent month-long trip they took to the Mindanao region of the Philippines. Australian intelligence agencies have identified online material that they say supports the theory the attackers were inspired by IS messaging; inquiries remain ongoing.
Police Response and Wider Questions
New South Wales police officials have praised officers’ actions under fire. Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he was "incredibly proud" of the personnel who responded. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns defended the force, saying officers engaged the shooters with handguns and prevented further loss of life.
People and the police are seen on the footbridge that was used by the father-and-son gunmen during the December 14 Bondi Beach shooting, in Sydney, on December 18, 2025. - David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
"What happened on Sunday has changed that dynamic," Commissioner Lanyon said, adding the force would review tactics and equipment to keep officers and the community safe.
The incident has prompted an immediate review of frontline equipment and event deployments. Historically, many NSW operational officers carry only service handguns because most confrontations have been close-range. Authorities will examine whether officers should routinely have access to longer-range weapons or different protocols for large public gatherings.
Officers and Bystanders Affected
Two police officers were wounded: probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, sustained gunshot wounds to the head and shoulder and has lost sight in one eye; Constable Scott Dyson, 25, was critically injured and remains in intensive care in a serious but stable condition. Barraza, a Bondi-based officer reported to have more than 15 years’ service, previously appeared on an Australian documentary series about police recruits.
The investigation — including forensic and ballistic examinations and broader inquiries into motivation and planning — is ongoing. Authorities continue to appeal for witnesses and additional footage to help establish a complete timeline of events.
