Bondi Gunman Naveed Akram Charged with 19 Additional Offences

Naveed Akram, 24, who is accused of carrying out one of Australia's deadliest mass shootings alongside his father Sajid Akram at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach, appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday where prosecutors confirmed 19 additional charges had been filed, raising his total to 78. The new charges — 10 counts of shooting with intent to murder, six counts of discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest, and three counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder — were filed in April but only publicly confirmed this week. Prosecutors from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team told the court they are working through an extensive evidence brief that includes 230,000 CCTV images and content from multiple devices linked to the defendant requiring translation. Akram's defence lawyer, Leonie Gittani, said her client was aware additional charges were possible and that no plea would be entered until the full brief of evidence had been served, describing the matter as still in its infancy. Sajid Akram, 50, who allegedly participated in the attack and was found to have conducted firearms training with his son in the New South Wales countryside prior to the shooting, was shot dead by police at the scene; Naveed was critically wounded and later transferred from hospital to prison. Court documents have previously alleged the pair meticulously planned the attack for months, recorded a video in front of an Islamic State flag detailing their motivations, and threw improvised explosive devices at the crowd, none of which detonated. A Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is currently sitting and is due to report by the first anniversary of the attack in December 2026, with the next court date for Akram set for August 12.