Alleged Bondi Shooter Charged with Terrorism and 15 Counts of Murder

New Delhi, December 17, 2025: Australian authorities have officially charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offenses, including terrorism and 15 counts of murder, following the horrific mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. The attack, which targeted a Jewish community event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, has been described by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a “targeted act of antisemitic terrorism.”

The charges were laid on Wednesday afternoon after Akram regained consciousness in a Sydney hospital. He had been in a coma since the attack, during which he was injured and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was fatally shot by police at the scene.

The Scale of the Charges

In addition to the 15 murder counts and the charge of committing a terrorist act, the list of 59 offenses against Naveed Akram includes:

• 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder.
• Placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.
• Publicly displaying a prohibited terrorist symbol.
• Discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The death toll stands at 16, including the older gunman. The victims ranged in age from a 10-year-old child to an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. As of Wednesday, 20 injured survivors remain in the hospital, five of whom are in critical condition.

Investigation into Radicalization

Intelligence officials have confirmed that the father and son were inspired by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology. Investigators found two homemade ISIS flags and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Naveed Akram’s vehicle.

Authorities are also tracing a recent trip the pair made to the Philippines in November. Security sources suggest they may have received “military-style training” in the city of Davao before returning to Australia just weeks before the massacre. While Naveed was an Australian citizen, his father Sajid was an Indian national who had lived in Australia since 1998.

Heroism Amidst Tragedy

The tragedy has also highlighted remarkable bravery. Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old bystander, has been hailed as a national hero after video footage showed him tackling and disarming the older gunman. Prime Minister Albanese visited Mr. al-Ahmed in the hospital, stating that he “represents the best of our country.” A crowdfunding campaign for the injured hero has already raised over $1.3 million.

Political and Social Impact

The massacre—Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy—has prompted an immediate political response. The federal government has vowed to introduce the “toughest gun laws in the country,” focusing on closing loopholes that allowed the older suspect to legally own six firearms.

Vigils continue across Australia as the nation mourns the victims and grapples with a rise in antisemitic sentiment. “We will not allow this country to be divided,” the Prime Minister said. “That is what the terrorists seek.”