Naveed Akram, the sole surviving suspect in the horrific mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been formally charged with 59 offences by New South Wales police. These charges include 15 counts of murder, one count of committing a terrorist act, and 40 charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder. He also faces a charge of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol. The attack, which occurred on Sunday, targeted Australia's Jewish community during an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah and has been designated a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stating it appears to have been motivated by "Islamic State" group ideology. It marks the country's deadliest shooting since 1996.

Naveed Akram's father, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed at the scene during an exchange of fire with police. Both Naveed and Sajid Akram are accused of opening fire on the festival. Naveed, 24, was critically injured during the incident and had his first hearing from his hospital bedside. The case has been adjourned until April 2026. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated they waited for medication to wear off before formally questioning Akram to ensure his understanding of the proceedings. As of Wednesday evening, 17 people remained hospitalized across Sydney, with one in critical condition and four others described as critical but stable.

Police investigations have revealed that the father and son traveled to the Philippines in November, from the 1st to the 28th, with their final destination being the southern city of Davao. Naveed used an Australian passport, while Sajid used an Indian passport, reportedly originating from Hyderabad in southern India. However, Philippine authorities have stated there is no evidence the country was used for "terrorist training." Questions are mounting regarding whether authorities could have foiled the attack earlier, as Naveed Akram, reportedly an unemployed bricklayer, had come to the attention of Australia's intelligence agency in 2019 but was not considered an imminent threat at the time and largely fell off the radar.

The attack claimed 15 lives and left dozens injured. Among the victims were two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia Gurman, 61, were also among those killed, after dashcam footage showed them bravely attempting to thwart one of the gunmen in the early stages of the attack. Boris reportedly knocked an attacker to the ground and briefly wrested control of a weapon, with Sofia rushing to support him, before they were shot and killed. Two police officers were also injured, including 22-year-old Jack Hibbert, who lost vision in one eye and faces a "long and challenging recovery."

The community has begun to mourn the victims, with thousands gathering for the first funerals. British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, described as the "rabbi of Bondi" and a popular figure known for his chaplaincy work, was among the first laid to rest. Rabbi Levi Wolff described his death as an "unspeakable loss" for the community. A funeral was also held for Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, a father of four renowned for his charitable work. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism for his absence from the funerals, defending himself by stating he would attend any event he was invited to and highlighting his government's measures against antisemitism, including appointing an antisemitism envoy, toughening hate speech laws, and increasing funding for Jewish institutions. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also called on Western governments to fight antisemitism and provide safety for Jewish communities.

The incident has revived calls for tougher gun laws in Australia. While mass shootings have been rare since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre led to a world-leading crackdown on firearms, there has been a documented steady rise in privately owned firearms in recent years. Australia's leaders have agreed to toughen existing laws that allowed Sajid Akram to own six guns. Funerals for the remaining victims, including the youngest, Matilda, are expected to take place over the coming days.