The alleged gunman behind the Bondi massacre, Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including terrorism and murder, after a series of killings that shocked Australia.
According to an AFP report, “police will charge a man in court who committed conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangerment of life in order to promote a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” New South Wales State Police said.
“Initial indications suggest a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a terrorist organization listed in Australia,” they said in a statement, using another name for the Islamic State group.
Akram failed to appear in court for bail on Wednesday shortly after police formally charged him with his alleged involvement in the Chanukah By The Sea mass shooting.
Akram and his father Sajid, 50, are accused of opening fire on attendees of a Jewish event on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday night.
Sajid was shot dead by the police while Naveed was injured, taken into custody and woke up from a coma on Tuesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, police officially charged him with one count of committing an act of terrorism, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of grievous bodily harm with intent to kill.
Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, used long-barreled guns to fire on Jewish crowds packing Bondi Beach for Hanukkah on Sunday night.
Authorities said they deliberately targeted a busy Hanukkah event that drew around 1,000 people to the famous surfing spot. Father Sajid Akram was an Indian citizen who had lived in Australia for many years, while his son Naveed, reportedly an unemployed bricklayer, held an Australian passport, according to an AFP report.
Naveed first alerted Australian intelligence in 2019, although he was not considered an immediate threat at the time, AFP reported.
In the weeks leading up to the attack, the pair traveled to the southern Philippines and Australian authorities are investigating whether they came into contact with Islamist extremists during the trip.
In addition, two homemade Islamic State flags were discovered in a car registered to Naveed, which was parked near the beach.
(This is a developing story; check back later for updates)
(With input from agencies)
