By Rory Callinan, ABC
Bondi genman Naveed Akram and Sajid Akram. Photo: Supplied
Bondi gunman Naveed Akram trained at a Sydney shooting club in "firearms safety" and "how to hunt", the club's president has revealed in an interview with a Serbian newspaper.
The 24-year-old and his father Sajid Akram are alleged to have shot dead 15 people and wounded at least 40 more during an attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Sajid, 50, was killed during the attack while Naveed, 24, was wounded and has been charged 15 counts of murder, one count of terrorism and dozens of other charges in connection with the attack on a Hanukkah celebration for the city's Jewish community.
Following the attack, his wallet was found at the scene containing a card from a western Sydney organisation called the Zastava Hunting Association that is associated with Sydney's Serbian community.
Earlier this week club president Vanja Kužet told a Serbian newspaper that Naveed had attended the club about five years ago.
Speaking to Blic online, Kužet said Naveed came to the club for training, "safety training ie how to hunt in New South Wales".
"We conduct hunting for deer, wild boar and goats '' he said.
"We neither support nor associate with such crimes and it is terrible what happened."
Kužet said the Australian Federal Police had already contacted the club.
He said he did not remember Naveed's face.
People have laid flowers and tributes at the scene of the Bondi Beach shooting. Photo: ABC News/Jack Fisher
He said Naveed did have a Zastava membership card, but the club did not issue gun permits.
Kužet said the permits were issued through the police.
"We treat him like any other client,'' he said.
Kužet said the club was a "hunting association, that held gatherings and social events and was sited more than 50km away from Bondi.
The ABC does not suggest the association or its members have acted illegally or were in any way involved or connected to the Bondi shootings.
The Akrams' access to firearms has raised concerns and questions about gun ownership and access.
Sajid Akram was a licenced firearm owner in NSW and had six registered firearms despite his son coming the attention of counter-terrorism investigators for association with radicals.
Four of these firearms were reportedly found at the scene of the shooting.
Naveed has never been identified by authorities as holding a firearms licence.
Clubs like Zastava can provide a perfectly legal avenue for people to own firearms.
According to the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, NSW, a person needs to show a "genuine reason" to have a firearms' licence in NSW.
One genuine reason in NSW can be for hunting conducted through a hunting club, a spokesperson said.
To qualify a person must attend a minimum of two activities a year with the hunting club.
Many hunting clubs legally hunt on crown land.
The Zastava Hunting Association's website offers advice about how to obtain a firearms licence in NSW including that shooters need a genuine reason to obtain a firearms licence and this can be for target shooting, hunting or collecting.
It describes itself as a NSW hunting club established with a focus on education and conservation of animal game species in Australia.
"Our vision is to promote acceptance within the community of hunting as a noble sport and make hunting accessible to everyone,'' the website states.
In 2019, the Association's website promoted training packages such as "Hunting Technique Short Courses", which included bushcraft and survival, butching game animals, game animal management and shot placement.
A statement on the current Zastava Hunting Club's main page says: "Discover the world of our hunting club and immerse yourself in a community of passionate individuals. Join us for exciting events and activities that will leave you thrilled and inspired."
Efforts to contact Kužet and the club were unsuccessful.
The AFP is being contacted for comment.
- ABC
