ABC airs former Asio agent’s claims that Bondi shooters were radicalised years ago, despite agency’s criticism

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) aired a controversial episode of its flagship investigative program Four Corners on February 10, 2026, featuring allegations from a former ASIO agent that the agency failed to act on early warnings regarding the radicalization of the Bondi Junction shooters. The whistleblower, identified only by the pseudonym 'Marcus,' claimed that Australia's domestic intelligence agency was informed years ago that brothers Sajid and Naveed Akram were vocal supporters of the Islamic State. Despite significant pushback from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the broadcaster proceeded with the report to address public concerns regarding national security oversights preceding the deadly attack. According to 'Marcus,' the intelligence provided to the agency suggested that the Akram brothers had expressed extremist ideologies well before they carried out the mass stabbing in Sydney. The former agent alleged that high-level warnings were ignored or mismanaged, allowing the perpetrators to remain off the high-priority surveillance radar despite their documented sympathies for terrorist organizations. This revelation has sparked a heated debate between the national broadcaster and the intelligence community over the balance between public transparency and the protection of classified operational methods. ASIO leadership has criticized the ABC for airing the claims, arguing that the reporting relies on an incomplete picture of complex intelligence operations and could potentially undermine public confidence in security services. However, the Four Corners report emphasizes a systemic failure in monitoring known sympathizers of radical groups. The government is now facing renewed calls for an independent inquiry into how the Akram brothers were able to plan and execute such a violent act if their radical leanings had been flagged to authorities years prior.