Australian authorities have formally charged the man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at a Jewish celebration in Sydney, in an attack police are treating as terrorism.
59 Charges Laid Against Hospitalised Suspect
Naveed Akram, 24, has been hit with a total of 59 criminal charges following the horrific incident at Bondi Beach last Sunday. The charges come after he spent two days in a coma, having been shot by police responding to the attack. He is expected to face a bail hearing at the Local Court Seven in Sydney from his hospital bed on Wednesday afternoon.
The extensive list of charges includes:
- One count of committing a terrorist act
- One count of discharging a firearm in a public place
- One count of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist symbol
- One count of placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm
- 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder
- 15 counts of murder
Details of the Terror Attack Emerge
New South Wales Police stated they will allege in court that the man "engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community." They indicated that early investigations point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, which is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.
The attack targeted the 'Chanukah By The Sea' event, a Jewish celebration marking the first night of Hanukkah. It is alleged that Naveed Akram shot at attendees from a footbridge near the Bondi Pavilion while his father, Sajid Akram, moved closer to the crowd. The attack lasted approximately nine minutes, during which Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police.
Victims and Ongoing Investigation
The human toll of the massacre is severe. Fifteen people lost their lives, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 87 years old. In the last 48 hours, twelve of the fifteen victims have been formally identified.
Furthermore, 22 people remain hospitalised with injuries sustained during the attack. Among the injured are two police officers—a constable and a probationary constable. As of Wednesday afternoon, the constable was reported to be in a critical but stable condition, while the probationary constable was in a stable condition.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett addressed the ongoing investigation, stating that no others are currently expected to be charged. "There is no evidence to suggest other individuals were involved in this attack," she said, while cautioning that "this could change given it is early in our investigation."
Naveed Akram reportedly woke from his coma on Tuesday night, ahead of his scheduled court appearance.
