SYDNEY, June 10 – The suspect in a devastating mass shooting that occurred at Sydney’s renowned Bondi Beach in December has been hit with 19 more criminal charges, authorities announced.
Law enforcement officials say the deadly assault during a Hanukkah celebration that claimed 15 lives was motivated by Islamic State ideology.
Originally, authorities filed 59 charges against Naveed Akram in the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident, which included 15 murder charges, 40 charges for wounding with intent to murder, and one terrorism-related charge.
During a Sydney court hearing on Wednesday, Akram’s legal representative, Leonie Gittani, confirmed that prosecutors had added 19 more charges to the case, local media outlets reported.
According to court documentation, the latest charges encompass 10 counts of shooting with intent to murder, six counts of discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest, and three counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.
The 24-year-old Akram has not yet submitted a plea in the case.
Authorities say his father, Sajid Akram, 50, who was also allegedly involved in carrying out the shooting attack, was killed by police officers at the location.
The violent incident shocked Australia, a country recognized for having stringent firearm regulations, leading to fresh demands for stronger gun control measures and more effective efforts to address antisemitism.
The Australian government has initiated an official investigation into antisemitism and social cohesion, with results expected to be released by December.
