Bondi Beach shooting suspect charged with 59 offenses, including terrorism and murder

Australian authorities on Wednesday charged a suspect in the Bondi Beach shootings with 59 offenses, including terrorism and murder.

Naveed Akram, 24, is charged with 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and one count each of committing a terrorist act, discharging firearms, planting explosives and publicly displaying the symbol of a terrorist organization, New South Wales Police said.

“Police will charge the man in court with engaging in behavior that caused death, serious injury and endangering life to advance a religious cause and sow fear in the community,” police said in a statement.

The department said early indicators pointed to a “terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organization in Australia”.

The second suspect, Akram’s 50-year-old father Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene on Sunday. Young Akram was seriously injured, police said; Earlier Wednesday, they said they were waiting for his condition to stabilize before filing charges against him.

“It’s important that he has appropriate cognitive abilities. For his fairness we need him to understand what exactly is going on,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

The two suspects allegedly opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at iconic Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring dozens more. Two police officers were also injured in the attack, New South Wales police said.

Five people remained in a critical condition on Wednesday, the New South Wales Department of Health said on Wednesday.

The charges against Akram come as the first funerals for victims of the attack began on Wednesday around the Bondi Beach area, under tight security. Police said they had partially opened road access but were maintaining a crime scene.