Sharri Markson, an investigative journalist who has spent nearly a year examining the Bondi Beach massacre—the deadliest terror attack in Australian history—has become a target of Iranian hackers amid her reporting. Markson, who has close ties to the Australian-Jewish community affected by the violence, uncovered that a sustained cyber operation by Iran sought to breach her accounts and gain access to her personal information.

The cyber intrusion came after Markson began collaborating with Alex Ryvchin, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, to produce a book documenting the massacre and its aftermath. In August, Markson was contacted via the social media platform X by an account claiming to belong to a former official in the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The message invited her to join a video call with a U.S. think tank reportedly working on related issues.

Suspicious of the account, Markson later learned the ex-official’s profile had been compromised. Security experts confirmed that Iranian operatives, believed to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), had infiltrated both the former official’s and Markson’s accounts through a cyber campaign known as “Charming Kitten.” The hackers used a bot to gain initial access and subsequently manipulated web platform code to infiltrate Markson’s Google Drive, where they accessed personal emails and documents.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) notified Markson that she was one of only two Australians targeted in this operation in 2025. ASIO has previously linked Iran to a series of attacks and plots against Jewish and Western targets in Australia and Europe, including the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and a Jewish-owned restaurant in Sydney in 2024. ASIO Director Mike Burgess has publicly warned of ongoing threats, including potential assassinations on Australian soil.

Markson’s reporting has focused heavily on antisemitism in Australia and security lapses preceding the December 14, 2025, Bondi massacre, when two gunmen opened fire, killing several people. The attackers, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, were able to procure weapons despite prior intelligence warnings. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram faces 78 charges and is due back in court in February. Markson’s investigation revealed that Australian authorities had received multiple tips on the elder Akram’s interest in explosives and extremist ideology dating back more than a decade but failed to share or act on the information effectively.

Markson and Ryvchin’s forthcoming book, “Bondi Terror,” set to be published in the United Kingdom, draws on extensive interviews with survivors, victims’ families, and first responders. The work critiques intelligence failures and calls on the Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to take stronger measures against rising antisemitism. Markson asserts the government’s response has been insufficient, attributing this partly to political considerations and ideological bias. She also highlighted footage of Albanese’s early political participation in pro-Palestinian rallies as part of her critique.

Markson described the yearlong investigation as emotionally taxing but emphasized the importance of recounting the tragedy to prompt reforms. She hopes that Australian and international leaders will engage seriously with the issues raised, warning that governments appear to be losing control over the growing threats posed by antisemitism and terrorism.