The 24-year-old man who allegedly opened fire alongside his father at a Jewish gathering in Bondi Beach, Australia, has been charged with committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and dozens of other offences, New South Wales Police said on Wednesday.
Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences, including 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, police said in a statement.
Police officers remove police tape from the scene of Sunday’s shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, December 17, 2025.
David Gray/AFP via Getty Images
Akram, who remains under police guard in hospital, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday via video link, police said.
He allegedly opened fire alongside his father, Sajid Akram, 50, at a beach event on Sunday, killing 15 people and wounding 41 others, according to authorities. The father of the alleged assailant, who also allegedly fired at the group, was shot and killed by police, authorities said.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team is leading an investigation into the shooting, after Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared it was terrorism-related.
Floral tributes left by mourners are seen on the Bondi Beach boardwalk in Sydney on December 17, 2025.
David Gray/AFP via Getty Images
“Police will allege in court that the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to promote a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” investigators said in announcing the charges. “Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, an Australian-listed terrorist organization.”
Akram has been charged with committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing injury or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing a public display of the symbol of a banned terrorist organization and placing an explosion in or near a building with intent to cause harm, according to police.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Tuesday that father and son traveled to the Philippines in the weeks before the attack and may have been inspired by the terrorist organization ISIS.
“There appears to be evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS,” Albanese told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.
ABC News’ David Brennan contributed to this report.
