Alleged Bondi Gunman Charged With 15 Counts of Murder

Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old allegedly involved in the Dec. 14 terror attack targeting a Jewish crowd has been formally charged by police after waking from his coma.

Naveed, along with his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, were responsible for one of the worst attacks to target the Jewish community after Oct. 7, 2023, and the worst mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre.

The older Akram was killed at the scene, but Naveed was shot by police and taken to hospital where he remained in a coma until Dec. 17.

Akram has been charged with 59 offences including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm, causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol, and placing explosives in or near a building with intent to cause harm.

Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community.

The mass shooting targeting the Jewish Hannukah celebration claimed the lives of 15 people, aged from 10 to 87, while many more were injured.

Some of the dead are yet to be formally identified, police say.

Police say multiple officers exchanged fire with the gunman, and as part of the incident, a constable and probationary constable also suffered gunshot wounds.

One officer remains in a stable condition, while the other is critical but stable.

There are currently 20 patients continuing to receive care across several Sydney hospitals.

New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared the event a terrorist incident just hours later, and the investigation was referred to the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCCT) under Operation Arques.

He remains in hospital under police guard to face Bail Division Local Court 7 via AVL on Dec. 17.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant they may think the information may be.

The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.