The 24-year-old man who allegedly opened fire alongside his father on a Hanukkah gathering at Australia’s Bondi Beach has been charged with committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and dozens of other offenses, the New South Wales Police said on Wednesday.
Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offenses, including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 courts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to 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, according to police.
Akram, who remains under police guard in a hospital, appeared in court on Wednesday via video, police said.
He allegedly opened fire alongside his father, Sajid Akram, 50, at an event at the beach on Sunday, killing 15 people and injuring over 40 others, according to officials. Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police, law enforcement said.
Naveed Akram allegedly carried out the shooting to “advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” investigators said when announcing the charges. “Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.”
The Bondi Beach massacre is now being used for ISIS propaganda, according to SITE Intelligence, a non-profit organization that tracks and monitors extremist propaganda.
#bondi beach #australia shooting #australia #naveed akram #sydney shooting #bondi #hanukkah 2025
