Former ASIO agent says Australians ‘deserve to know’ Bondi attack’s cause

A former ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) agent Marcus claims to have warned security agencies about the Bondi gunmen years before last December’s terror attack, and says Australians “deserve to know” what led to the shooting.

He is seeking to return to Australia to give evidence to the Bondi royal commission in person. His first visa application was rejected; however, he recently lodged a new one.

In a statement provided to the ABC, Marcus said he wants to provide whatever insights he can to understand how the shooting came to take place. The former agent spent years infiltrating Islamic extremist groups in western Sydney, working as a paid source for domestic spy agency ASIO. His cover was eventually blown, and he fell out with the organization, which has since described him as a “disgruntled and unreliable source” — characterisations Marcus rejects.

Marcus is currently living in an undisclosed location abroad, and has said he fears for his safety. He claims he warned ASIO about the Akrams years before the attack, but the agency ignored his concerns.

The royal commission and New South Wales police have both expressed an interest in speaking with Marcus, and a letter from the royal commission was provided with his first visa application. Government sources have pointed to the royal commission not formally calling Marcus as a witness; however, the ABC has seen correspondence from the royal commission expressing its interest in hearing from him. Those sources also suggested to the ABC that Marcus’ evidence could be given remotely, and still be heard securely.

Several whistleblower advocacy groups have aired their support for Marcus’s bid to return to Australia. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network has also supported his bid to return.