Australian police on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) charged Naveed Akram, who shot into a crowd with his father on Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach last Sunday, with “terrorism”, 15 counts of murder and other crimes. A total of 59 charges, including publicly displaying a banned terrorist symbol and placing an explosive in or near a building; as the authorities said in a statement.
“Police will allege in court that the man engaged in acts that caused death and serious injury and endangered the lives of other people in order to promote a religious cause and sow fear in the community,” New South Wales state police said of the attack, which was carried out during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, or Festival of Lights.
The defendant must appear today via video conference
“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by IS (the jihadist group Islamic State), an organization designated as a terrorist by Australia,” said a police statement, which had already indicated that the attack was motivated by this extremist ideology. The New South Wales Joint Counter-Terrorism Team (JCTT) reported that the defendant was being held in police custody at the hospital, where he remains in hospital with serious injuries after emerging from a coma yesterday, and is due to appear in court via video conference on Wednesday.
The attack, which lasted about nine minutes, killed 15 people aged between 10 and 87, 12 of whom have been officially identified so far. During the attack, Sajid Akram, 50, of Indian descent and father of the accused, died after being shot dead by police at the scene as he was identified as the second gunman.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett noted that there was currently no evidence of other people’s involvement, but warned that the investigation was ongoing and data could change as the investigation progresses. Eli Snaker, a father of five and known as the “Rabbi of Bondi,” was the first victim to be buried after a memorial service at the Chabad of Bondi synagogue.
LGC (AFP, EFE)
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