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By Aliss Higham and Shane Croucher
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Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect in the Bondi Beach shooting that killed 15 people at a Jewish holiday party, has been charged by Australian police with 59 offenses, including terrorism.
The Context
The mass shooting took place at Hannukah celebrations on Sunday, and claimed the lives of nearly two dozen people, including a 10-year-old girl. The first funerals for the victims were held on Tuesday.
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The 24-year-old, who police believe has links to ISIS and is in critical condition in hospital, was charged by the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team on Wednesday.
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What To Know
The charges 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 intending cause grievous bodily harm; causing the public display of a prohibited terrorist organization symbol; and placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.
The suspect is alleged to have carried out the attack with a second gunman — Akram’s father, Sajid, 50 — who was fatally shot by police at the scene.
"There are currently 20 patients continuing to receive care across several Sydney hospitals," an update from New South Wales Police reads. "Those who died are still in the process of being formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87."
Full List Of Charges
The force said these alleged offences included :
- Commiting a terrorist act
- 15 counts of murder
- 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder
- Discharging a firearm etc intending to cause grievous bodily harm
- Causing a public display of a "prohibited terrorist org symbol"
- Placing explosive in/near a building with intent to cause harm
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack appears to have been "motivated by Islamic State ideology" during a radio interview with ABC Sydney on Tuesday.
Improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags were discovered in a car registered to suspect Naveed Akram, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon alleged during a briefing on Tuesday.
Lanyon said investigators are looking into why the father and son traveled to the Philippines last month. Both travelled to the country in November.
What People Are Saying
Albanese said in an interview with ABC Australia: "This is a horrific act of antisemitism, a terrorist action designed to harm the Jewish community on what should be, of course, as the first day of Chanukah, a day of celebration. Chanukah, in part, is about the victory of light over dark. Well, this was a very dark day in Australian history, but together we will emerge into the light."
Krissy Barrett, Australia's Federal Police Commissioner, said in a press briefing on Tuesday: "This was a barbaric attack against Jewish Australians. On Sunday, Jewish Australians were hunted down in broad daylight at an iconic Australian beach. The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appear to have had no regard for the age or ableness of their victims. It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally."
What Happens Next
The 24-year-old suspect did not seek bail, which was formally denied, and the case is set to be mentioned again in court on December 22, according to Australian public broadcaster ABC. He remains in hospital under police guard.
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