ASIO vs ABC: Broadcaster Defends Bondi Investigation Amid Spy Agency Rebuke
February 9, 2026 — 12:57 pm
In a rare public statement, ASIO has expressed 'grave concerns' over the accuracy of an ABC investigation into the Bondi massacre, set to air on Four Corners on Monday night, and threatened further action if false claims are broadcast.
The statement, released on Sunday evening, accuses the ABC of relying on an 'unreliable and disgruntled' source who misidentified one of the alleged gunmen, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, and confused his actions with those of another individual.
The ABC stands by its story, which it claims was based on extensive reporting and multiple sources, examining the Akrams' actions leading up to the attack. ASIO, which has not seen the program, says its response is limited due to the ongoing royal commission into antisemitism and the criminal investigation against Akram.
Akram has been charged with murdering 15 people in the December 14 attack, with his father and alleged co-conspirator, Sajid Akram, shot dead by police.
The first part of the Four Corners investigation, led by reporter Mark Willacy, aired last week, providing an account of the attack day from those present. The second part, led by Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, will delve into 'the secret lives of the terrorists, uncovering astonishing new information about the years leading up to the attack', according to the ABC.
ASIO's statement, released preemptively, notes that it investigated Naveed Akram in 2019 using its most sensitive capabilities, assessing he did not adhere to or intend to engage in violent extremism. It stands by this assessment, stating that Four Corners' claims contain significant factual errors.
ASIO warns that if the ABC publishes unsubstantiated claims, it will reserve the right to take further action. The Bondi royal commission, required to complete its first report by April, will examine intelligence and law enforcement effectiveness in stopping the attack and the impact of legal rules.
ASIO refutes claims that an ABC source has a history of making untrue statements and that Naveed Akram is a close associate of terrorists. It asserts that the claims made by Four Corners were investigated and found unsubstantiated, with the source misidentifying Naveed Akram.
An ABC spokesperson defended the program as a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil, citing extensive reporting and multiple sources. The public will have the opportunity to view the full investigation tonight.
Rubinsztein-Dunlop declined to comment.
ASIO also rejected accusations of understaffing and suggestions that redundancies in 2020 might have impacted its ability to prevent the massacre, stating that any resourcing decision claim is false and irresponsible, demonstrating ignorance of its prioritization frameworks and counterterrorism efforts.
Given the ABC's questions and Rubinsztein-Dunlop's previous false claims, ASIO expresses 'grave concerns' about the story's accuracy, emphasizing its inability to predict the perpetrators' plans.
