Bondi Beach shooting: Suspect charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder
Australian police have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act, over Sunday’s Bondi Beach mass shooting that left 15 dead and 41 injured.
Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act, over his role as one of two gunmen in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Australia, which claimed 15 lives.
Videos from the scene show two gunmen firing from a small bridge overlooking the beach as terrified festival-goers, attending a Hanukkah event at Archer Park, scrambled for safety.
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The attack left 41 people injured, including four children and two police officers, who are recovering from gunshot wounds.
Authorities later identified the attackers as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed. Sajid was killed at the scene, while Naveed was taken to the hospital under police supervision. Australian authorities have referred the incident to the New South Wales (NSW) Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCCT), under Operation Arques, after officially declaring it a terrorist attack.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Naveed was charged in hospital with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder. He also faces 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to kill.
“Following extensive inquiries under Operation Arques, the NSW JCCT investigators attended a hospital today and charged the 24-year-old Bonnyrigg man with 59 offences, including committing a terrorist act and 15 counts of murder,” the Wednesday statement, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, reads.
Grievous bodily harm
He was additionally charged with 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, publicly displaying a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol, and placing explosives in or near a building with intent to cause harm.
Responding officers discovered two improvised explosive devices at the scene, which were safely detonated.
Australian police reported that 20 survivors are currently receiving treatment in various Sydney hospitals.
“Those who died are still in the process of being formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87,” the AFP said.
“Of the two injured officers, the constable is in a stable condition, while the probationary constable remains in a critical but stable condition.”
Naveed remains in hospital under police watch ahead of a bail hearing.
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