Minns admits ‘giant intelligence failure’ led to Bondi terror attack

Earlier today, reports from The Daily Telegraph claimed that two calls to the National Security Hotline in 2007 and 2024 reporting Sajid Akram were not passed on to ASIO.

Akram was killed by police in the shooting, while his alleged accomplice and son Naveed is currently appearing in court.

Speaking to 2GB, Minns said he did not want to send the wrong message to the state by suggesting that current structures to combat terrorism are not fit for purpose.

“We clearly suffered a massive law enforcement and intelligence failure last December that we must correct and improve,” he said.

“But I also don’t want the audience to believe that no one is talking to each other.”

“These are law enforcement agencies that work with advanced technology and have had success in the past.

“You often don’t read about them because they took action before someone committed a terrible terrorist event.”

He said the failure to share the alleged pieces of intelligence with ASIO was more likely because they “slipped through the cracks” rather than a malicious attempt to withhold important information.

“I think there are parts of the intelligence and counter-terrorism architecture that need to be examined, and that need to be examined by the Royal Commission, and we need to make sure that we learn from the mistakes that have been made,” Minns said.

“But I’m not going to say it’s broken, I don’t want to send the message today that if people have suspicions or concerns about something in their community, they should contact the authorities.

“I don’t want the good work of those senior police officers and hard-working intelligence services to simply be washed away.”