Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act, according to the New South Wales Police.<\/p>\n
The other gunman, his father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in an exchange of fire with police at the scene.<\/p>\n
Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the attack, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. <\/p>\n
It was the country’s deadliest shooting since 1996.<\/p>\n
Akram also faces 40 charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, as well as one charge of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.<\/p>\n
He was critically injured during the incident on Sunday, and had his first hearing from his hospital bedside, the local New South Wales court said. <\/p>\n
The case has been adjourned until April 2026, the court added. <\/p>\n
Earlier on Wednesday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they were waiting for medication to wear off before formally questioning Akram.<\/p>\n
“For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening,” Lanyon said.<\/p>\n
Twenty people injured in the attack remain in hospitals across Sydney, with one person still in a critical condition.<\/p>\n
Police have designated the attack a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it appears to have been “motivated by Islamic State” group ideology.<\/p>\n
Police said “homemade” Islamic State group flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been found in the vehicle used by the gunmen.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, it emerged that the father and son had travelled to the Philippines a month before the attack at Bondi Beach.<\/p>\n
The Philippine immigration bureau told the BBC that they were in the country from 1 November to 28 November. Their final destination was the southern city of Davao, an immigration spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines using an Australian passport, while his father Sajid used an Indian passport, border authorities in Manila told the BBC.<\/p>\n