Alleged Bondi Beach gunman charged with 15 counts of murder, police say
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.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Tuesday that the father and son traveled to the Philippines in the weeks leading up to the attack and may have been inspired by the ISIS terrorist organization.
"It would appear that there is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS," Albanese told reporters at a Tuesday press conference.
Twenty of those who were injured in the attack were still being treated at hospitals across Sydney, officials said on Wednesday. Two of the injured were police officers.
"Doctors. Nurses. Surgeons. Radiologists. Pathologists. And so many more. We’ve seen humanity at its very best, as you've worked tirelessly to save lives," Albanese said on Wednesday on social media. "We can't thank you enough."
-ABC News' David Brennan contributed to this report.
