Bondi Beach Terror Attack Suspect Faces 19 New Charges
New charges were filed Wednesday against the surviving suspect in the Bondi Beach massacre, marking the first update since December, according to the Australian Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Naveed Akram, 24, of Bonnyrigg, is accused, along with his father Sajid Akram, of killing 15 people and wounding 41 in a shooting attack at a Chanukah party on December 14. The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team added 19 charges to the 59 filed on December 17.
The new charges include three counts of attempted murder, 10 counts of shooting with intent to murder, and six counts of discharging a firearm with intent to cause harm or resist arrest. Akram was already charged with a terrorist offense, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, discharging a firearm with intent, placing explosives near a public building, and displaying a terrorist symbol.
The terrorism and murder charges carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment. The 43 attempted murder charges, 10 shooting-with-intent-to-murder charges, and five firearm discharge charges each carry maximum sentences of 25 years. Akram also faces up to 14 years for placing explosives after the attackers threw four IEDs into the crowd, while a fifth was found in their vehicle. A homemade ISIS flag found in the vehicle carries a maximum penalty of five years.
The court granted prosecutors until August 12 to gather additional evidence. Akram, who survived after being critically wounded by police, has not entered a plea. His 50-year-old father was shot dead during the attack.
In April, the court rejected Akram’s bid to suppress information about his family. In May, it ordered victim information suppressed, and prosecutors sought an extension Wednesday before the order expires June 29.
The attack, which included victims as young as 10, prompted scrutiny of law enforcement preparedness. After months of pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Testimony in May revealed that NSW Police did not conduct a threat assessment for the Chanukah event despite warnings from the Community Security Group, whose members had requested, but were denied, a static police presence.
