Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza, the officer credited with stopping the Bondi Beach terror attack, recounted his actions during the incident, detailing how he raced to the scene without crucial equipment. Barraza was on his dinner break at Bondi police station on December 14 when he heard an emergency call indicating "possible armed offenders. Shots fired." A colleague's response, "I think I've been shot," prompted Barraza to immediately depart.
According to a new book, "Bondi Terror," authored by Alex Ryvchin and Sharri Markson, Barraza left the station without his body-worn camera, bulletproof vest, spare pistol magazines, or mobile phone. He followed the sound of gunfire, not knowing the location of the shooting or its connection to the "Hanukkah by the Sea" event. Upon reaching the vicinity of Bondi Pavilion, Barraza reported seeing two men armed with long-arm firearms shooting at police officers.
Barraza took cover behind a tree approximately 40 meters from the two individuals. As gunfire erupted, he ducked behind the trunk. His first shot killed one of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, exposing his position to the second alleged shooter. Barraza then engaged in a prolonged firefight with the second alleged gunman, identified as Sajid's son, Naveed Akram. Other officers simultaneously fired at Naveed Akram from the opposite side of the bridge.
Naveed Akram was shot and fell to the ground. Barraza and his colleagues apprehended him, seizing a handgun containing a magazine with 18 rounds. Barraza later learned he had only three bullets remaining in his magazine when the exchange ended. The attack resulted in 15 fatalities, including a 10-year-old and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor.
Barraza, described as "deeply religious," had been posted to Bondi only six weeks prior to the attack, having prayed to be sent to a location where he was most needed. Markson's account suggests Barraza told friends he was not nervous during the incident and never considered the possibility of missing his shots.
"Bondi Terror" details the attack through testimonies from survivors, witnesses, and first responders. Prosecutors in the case against Naveed Akram have confirmed that over 8,000 witness statements, video evidence, and ballistics evidence have been submitted. Akram faces 78 charges, including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, and 43 counts of attempted murder. He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 28. The Bondi terrorist attack was Australia's deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.