Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old lone survivor of the deadly Bondi Beach rampage, faces 59 charges from New South Wales police, encompassing 15 murders, a terrorist act, 40 instances of grievous bodily harm with intent to kill, plus firearms offences, explosives use, and displaying a prohibited terrorist symbol.
The Sunday onslaught at a Hanukkah event—Australia’s worst shooting since 1996—claimed 15 lives, including two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and 10-year-old Matilda, while wounding dozens, among them two officers. Akram’s father, Sajid, a 50-year-old with a licensed arsenal of six guns, perished in a firefight.
The pair had journeyed to the Philippines from November 1-28 for suspected military-style training linked to Islamic State influences.
Still under hospital guard, Akram appeared remotely in court before Magistrate Daniel Covington, with the case adjourned to April 2026.
“For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening,” Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, delaying questioning until sedatives cleared.
By mid-week, 17 to 20 remained hospitalised in Sydney, one critically and others stable but serious. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese deemed it a terrorist atrocity driven by “motivated by Islamic State” ideology, pledging gun law overhauls.
Thousands packed Bondi Chabad Synagogue for British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s funeral, the first for victims, where Rabbi Levi Wolff lamented an “unspeakable loss.”
“Eli was ripped away from us, doing what he loved best,” he said. “Spreading love and joy and caring for his people with endless self-sacrifice in his life and in his death, he towered above as one of the highest and holiest souls.”
Boris and Sofia Gurman, seen battling a gunman on video, also died, alongside Matilda—whose Thursday service followed—while officer Jack Hibbert, 22, battles vision loss and a “long and challenging recovery”, his family stated.
Albanese, absent from the rite, told ABC NewsRadio, “I would attend anything that I’m invited to. These are funerals that are taking place to farewell people’s loved ones.” Facing Jewish community backlash over antisemitism inaction, he highlighted his envoy appointment, hate speech toughening, and boosted funding for cohesion and Jewish facilities.