Bondi Beach Gunman Charged with 59 Offenses Including Murder and Terrorism
Australian authorities have formally charged the surviving gunman of the Bondi Beach massacre with dozens of offenses, including murder and terrorism, as the nation begins to bury the victims of the deadliest mass killing in the country in nearly three decades. Naveed Akram, 24, was hit with a total of 59 charges on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, just days after he and his father allegedly opened fire on a crowd of approximately one thousand people celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Appearing briefly via video link from his hospital bed at St Vincent’s Hospital, Akram was charged with 15 counts of murder—one for each life lost in the attack—and one count of committing a terrorist act. New South Wales Police will allege in court that Akram engaged in the violent assault to advance a religious or ideological cause and to instill terror in the community. Additional charges against him include 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder related to the dozens of injured survivors, as well as offenses involving the possession and placement of improvised explosive devices discovered in the attackers’ vehicle.
The legal proceedings come as investigators provide more clarity on the motive behind the bloodshed. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that early evidence points to a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS). Authorities believe the younger Akram and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police at the scene, acted as a “lone wolf” pair rather than part of a larger active cell. However, security agencies are currently scrutinizing a trip the duo made to the Philippines in November to determine if they received any military-style training or established overseas extremist connections prior to the shooting.
The charging of Naveed Akram coincided with the first funerals for the victims, including that of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a father of five and beloved community leader who organized the “Chanukah by the Sea” event. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, and the scale of the tragedy has prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to fast-track a recall of the New South Wales Parliament to implement some of the world’s toughest new gun control measures. Akram remains under heavy police guard and did not apply for bail; his case has been adjourned until early 2026 as the complex counter-terrorism investigation continues.
