Naveed Akram is accused of 15 murders in the Bondi Beach terror attack, with police confirming an Islamist motive
Australian police accuse Bondi, the shooting suspect, of 59 crimes after the act, which was aimed at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, was classified as terrorism.
New South Wales Police stated that Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 murder charges and one terrorist act charge.
The incident, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration, was the bloodiest mass shooting in the nation since 1996, with 15 fatalities and several injuries.
A gunfight with the responding police resulted in the death of Akram’s father, Sajid Akram, 50. The younger Akram is also charged with 40 counts of causing severe bodily harm with intent to murder, according to authorities, and one count of displaying a symbol of a banned terrorist organization in public.
Akram was seriously hurt in the event and used his hospital bed to attend his first court appearance. According to the New South Wales court, the case has been postponed until April 2026.
Prior to questioning Akram, police commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that they were awaiting the effects of his medication.
We need him to know fully what is going on for his fairness,” Lanyon stated.
Officially, police have classified the shooting as a terrorist attack. According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the incident seemed to be “motivated by Islamic State” group doctrine.
One person is currently in serious condition, while twenty others are still in hospitals throughout Sydney. Two police officers were among the wounded. Jack Hibbert, a 22-year-old cop, will have a “long and challenging recovery” after losing vision in one eye, according to his family.
According to investigations, in November, Naveed Akram and his father visited the Philippines. Immigration officials in the Philippines informed the BBC that they were in the country from November 1 to November 28 and that Davao was their ultimate goal. Sajid had an Indian passport, but Naveed had an Australian one.
Telangana state police said that Sajid Akram had “limited contact” with his family in Hyderabad, which is in southern India.
A 10-year-old girl named Matilda, two rabbis, and a Holocaust survivor were among the victims of the attack. Among the dead were Boris and Sofia Gurman, who were captured on camera grappling with one of the attackers in the early stages of the assault.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger was born in Britain, and thousands of people attended his funeral on Wednesday, the first burial for the shooting victims. During his remarks during the service, Rabbi Levi Wolff called the loss “unspeakable” for the community.
According to Wolff, “Eli was torn away from us, doing what he loved best.”
“He towered above as one of the highest and holiest souls, spreading love and joy and caring for his people with unending self-sacrifice throughout his life and in his death.”
Rabbi Schlanger was involved in the planning of the Hanukkah affair. Matilda and the other victims’ funerals are anticipated in the next several days.
After the Jewish community criticized Prime Minister Albanese for his antisemitism record, he did not attend the funeral but defended it by pointing to actions like the appointment of Australia’s first antisemitism envoy, stricter laws against hate speech, and more funding for Jewish institutions and social cohesion initiatives.
