Bondi terror attack: Incredible new details about hero gunman revealed by Sharri Markson (Senior Constable Cesar Barraza)

news.com.au ^ | 10th September 2026 | Sharri Markson

[naturalman1975]

.....

Even more remarkably, Sen Const Barraza had been transferred to Bondi just six weeks earlier after praying he would be posted to the station where he was most needed.

.....

Sen Const Barraza, an experienced police marksman, was eating nachos at Bondi police station when a call came through on the police radio: “Possible armed offenders. Shots fired.”

.....

Sen Const Barraza didn’t waste another moment. He didn’t take his body-worn video camera, he didn’t take his mobile phone or even stop to put his bulletproof vest on. He didn’t take any spare pistol magazines. He didn’t tell anyone what he was doing – he just ran out the back door of the station.

......

Sen Const Barraza took cover behind a tree. He would have liked to have been closer but it was the most substantial place to take cover near the bridge. “It’s a big enough tree,” he thought.

When he visited the site three days later, he would see that the tree was nowhere near big enough and was riddled with bullet holes.

Initially, the gunmen were facing away from him. They had no idea he was there. Sen Const Barraza took aim. A single clean shot – his first shot – killed gunman Sajid Akram, who went down straight away.

.....

Over the next minute or so, Sen Const Barraza continued shooting in a prolonged firefight with Naveed.

.....

Naveed had been moving and ducking, but then he briefly, for a split second, exposed himself in a small gap between the stairs and the bridge. Sen Const Barraza saw his chance - and fired.

.....

Both attackers were down, seven minutes and 40 seconds after the first shot.

Sen Const Barraza had entered the gun battle carrying one magazine containing 18 rounds and no spare ammunition. He fired 15 shots.

When the shooting stopped, three bullets remained.

---

TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:

[naturalman1975]

[Red Badger]

Ping!...............

[naturalman1975]

To comply with the excerpt rules, and the 300 word limit, I've had to edit this far more than I would have liked in an ideal world.

Senior Constable Barraza engaged two men with long arms with a handgun at a distance of 40 metres - about 130 feet. He killed the first terrorist with his first shot and wounded the second, ending the attack, a minute or so later after an exchange of fire.

[proxy_user]

Well, he was a highly rated police marksman, rather than just an ordinary officer without any serious training. They do have 50 yard competitions at the highest level.

[marktwain]

Thank you for sharing this.

[Sequoyah101]

Clearly impressive and dedicated.

He needs to do like I need to do, lay off the nachos though.

Great marksmanship.

[naturalman1975]

Yeah - photographed taking down two terrorists and everybody talks about the fact he has a little bit of a gut :)

[JZelle]

She deserved to be fired but I never expected tho.

[Sequoyah101]

Just one of those things.

[Deaf Smith]

>>I’ve had to edit this…

—————-

You posted the meat of the story.

You did better than I think 98% of other OPs posting a thread.

[Bigg Red]

You did a great job. Thank you.

And God bless and keep this brave man.

[hanamizu]

So has Sen Const Barraza been mentioned for receiving the Cross of Valour or would that be considered inflammatory?

[naturalman1975]

He has certainly been nominated for an Australian Bravery Award - by me, for a start, and I'm sure by many others.

(Any Australian citizen or resident can make a nomination via the Governor-General's website).

I expect he will receive such a decoration in due course, along with a number of other people.

The Governor-General has announced that there will be a Special Honours List issued concerning the events at Bondi. I think it is likely it will be released in December on the first anniversary of the attacks - that was what happened with the Special Honours List in 2003 for the Bali Bombings in 2002. But there could be a delay if it would be considered potentially prejudicial to the right of the alleged surviving gunman's chance of a fair trial. He is currently facing a total of 78 charges including 1 of committing a terrorist act, 15 of murder, and 43 of attempted murder, as well as some lesser charges.

(I am being deliberately careful in the language I use here).

I believe there will be a number of people honoured, first among them Ahmed al Ahmed, and Senior Constable Barraza. But it may take some time.