The 24-year-old man accused of opening fire alongside his father at a Hanukkah gathering on Australia’s Bondi Beach has been charged with committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, and dozens of other offenses, New South Wales Police said Wednesday.
Police identified the suspect as Naveed Akram, 24, and stated that he now faces a total of 59 charges. Those include committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organization’s symbol, and placing an explosion in or near a building with intent to cause harm.
Akram allegedly opened fire with his father, Sajid Akram, 50, during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing 15 people and injuring more than 40 others, according to officials. Police said Sajid Akram was shot and killed by officers who responded to the scene.
Possible ISIS inspiration and trip to the Philippines
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Tuesday that investigators are examining whether the attack was inspired by the ISIS terrorist organization.
“It would appear that there is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS,” Albanese said at a news conference, adding that the father and son had traveled to the Philippines in the weeks before the shooting.
Authorities have not yet detailed what they believe the two men did overseas, or precisely how ISIS may have influenced them, but say they are looking closely at the pair’s contacts, online activity, and movements in the lead-up to the attack.
Akram has also been charged with causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist group’s symbol, suggesting that investigators believe extremist imagery or propaganda was involved in some way during the incident.
Dozens still in hospital as Albanese praises medical staff
On Wednesday, officials said 20 people injured in the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting remained in hospitals across Sydney. Two of those hospitalized are police officers who were hurt during the response.
“Doctors. Nurses. Surgeons. Radiologists. Pathologists. And so many more. We’ve seen humanity at its very best, as you’ve worked tirelessly to save lives,” Albanese wrote on social media Wednesday. “We can’t thank you enough.”
Medical teams have performed numerous emergency surgeries since the attack, treating gunshot wounds and blast injuries in multiple facilities as families keep vigil at bedsides.
Court appearance from the hospital
Akram remains under police guard in a hospital, recovering from injuries sustained during the incident. New South Wales Police said he appeared in court via video link on Wednesday, where the long list of charges was formally read.
Under Australia’s terrorism laws, a conviction for committing a terrorist act can carry a potential life sentence, and the additional murder and attempted murder charges mean Akram faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars if found guilty.
Police say their investigation is continuing, with detectives gathering forensic evidence from the beachside crime scene, reviewing security footage, and taking statements from survivors and witnesses who were attending the Hanukkah event when the shooting began.
Officials have urged anyone with additional video, photos, or information to contact authorities, stressing that even small details could help piece together the full sequence of events and clarify whether others were involved in planning or supporting the attack.
