A man accused of carrying out a deadly anti-Semitic shooting at Bondi Beach is now facing a new wave of criminal charges, according to court documents made public on Wednesday.
Naveed Akram, 24, is alleged to have opened fire on crowds gathered for a Hanukkah celebration in December, killing 15 people.
Akram had already been charged with numerous serious offences, including multiple counts of murder and terrorism. Newly released records indicate he now faces 19 additional charges, among them shooting with intent to murder, wounding with intent to murder, and discharging a firearm to evade arrest. He remains in a high-security prison and has not yet entered a plea.
Authorities say his father, Sajid, 50, who is believed to have been involved in the attack, was shot dead by police during the incident.
The release of the updated charges coincides with a major public inquiry into what has been described as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades. The hearings are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and broader issues linked to extremism.
“The sharp spike of anti-Semitism that we have witnessed in Australia has been mirrored in other Western countries and seems clearly linked to events in the Middle East,” inquiry chief Virginia Bell said in opening remarks earlier this week.
“It’s important that people understand how quickly those events can prompt ugly displays of hostility towards Jewish Australians simply because they are Jews.”
The tragedy has triggered nationwide reflection, with growing concern over anti-Semitism and criticism of failures to adequately protect Jewish communities. In response, the government announced new firearm regulations, including a nationwide gun buyback program. However, progress on the initiative has slowed amid difficulties securing agreement from state and territory governments.
Security agencies had previously identified Akram as a person of interest in 2019, though he was later assessed as not posing an immediate threat. Following the attack, police documents revealed that he and his father reportedly conducted firearms training in rural New South Wales and spent months preparing for the assault.
Investigators allege the pair planned the attack in detail, supported by images showing them practicing with weapons and moving in what officials described as a “tactical manner.” Court filings further state that the attack began with the use of improvised explosive devices thrown into the crowd, although these failed to detonate. A larger explosive device was later discovered in the trunk of Akram’s car, which was reportedly draped with Islamic State group flags.
Police also disclosed that the suspects recorded a video in October in which they spoke against “Zionists” while seated in front of an Islamic State flag, outlining their motivations for carrying out the attack.
