A major awards ceremony and a high-profile film premiere in Sydney have been cancelled following a deadly shooting. The incident left the city in mourning.
The 2025 GQ Australia Men of the Year Awards, scheduled for December 17 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, will no longer take place. Organisers confirmed the cancellation in a statement. They said the decision was made in light of the tragic events that shocked the city.
Event organisers expressed their condolences to the victims, their families and all those affected by the violence. They stated that proceeding with the ceremony would be inappropriate under the circumstances.
The attack also led to the cancellation of the Sydney premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest instalment in the blockbuster franchise starring Sam Worthington. The red-carpet event was expected to be attended by Worthington, director James Cameron and other members of the cast and crew. Organisers said the premiere was called off out of respect for those injured and killed in the attack.
According to police, the shooting occurred near the Bondi Pavilion. Two armed men, identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, opened fire on people in the area using high-powered weapons.
Fourteen people were killed at the scene, while two others later died in hospital, including one of the attackers. Authorities confirmed that 42 people were taken to the hospital, among them four children. Five victims remain in serious condition, including two police officers who were injured while responding to the incident. Officials have not yet announced alternative dates for either the GQ Awards or the film premiere.
