Authorities in New South Wales have formally charged Naveed Akram, the lone survivor of Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach, with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Akram, 24, sustained serious injuries during the attack, while his father, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in a confrontation with police at the scene.
The assault, which struck Australia’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration, claimed 15 lives and left many more injured, making it the country’s deadliest shooting since 1996.
In addition to the murder charges, Akram faces 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to kill and one charge of displaying a symbol associated with a banned terrorist group.
His first court appearance took place from a hospital bed, with proceedings postponed until April 2026. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon explained that investigators are waiting for Akram to be fully aware before questioning him. "For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening," Lanyon said.
Seventeen victims remain under hospital care, including one in critical condition and four others in serious but stable condition. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the attack has been treated as a terrorist incident, noting that early evidence suggests it was inspired by Islamic State ideology.
Investigators revealed that both Naveed and his father had travelled to the Philippines in November, staying from the 1st to the 28th, with Davao as their final destination. Naveed entered using an Australian passport while Sajid used an Indian passport.
Sajid Akram, originally from Hyderabad, India, reportedly had minimal contact with relatives in his home country.
Among those killed were two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. Boris and Sofia Gurman, a couple filmed struggling with one of the gunmen during the attack, were also killed. Twenty-seven other people, including two police officers, were injured. Officer Jack Hibbert, 22, has lost sight in one eye and faces a long recovery, his family said.
Thousands attended the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a British-born rabbi and one of the first victims to be laid to rest. Rabbi Levi Wolff said at the service: "Eli was ripped away from us, doing what he loved best. Spreading love and joy and caring for his people with endless self-sacrifice in his life and in his death, he towered above as one of the highest and holiest souls." Rabbi Schlanger had played a key role in organising the Hanukkah celebration targeted in the attack.
Funerals for the other victims, including young Matilda, are scheduled in the coming days. Prime Minister Albanese defended his absence from Rabbi Schlanger’s service, stating he attends events to which he is invited and highlighted measures taken against antisemitism, such as appointing Australia’s first antisemitism envoy and increasing funding for Jewish community programs.
