The alleged Bondi attacker who survived a shootout with police has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act in what investigators allege may have been “inspired by Isis”.
New South Wales police charged Naveed Akram, 24, on Wednesday, after he was arrested at the scene and taken to a Sydney hospital with critical injuries on Sunday night.
“Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” police said in a statement.
“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Isis, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.”
“Following extensive inquiries under Operation Arques … investigators attended a hospital where they charged a 24-year-old Bonnyrigg man with 59 offences.”
Akram was charged after waking from a coma on Tuesday, with the matter heard in court on Wednesday afternoon.
He did not apply for bail, and will next face court again on 8 April.
Among the charges against him are 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, one count of placing an explosive in or near a building, a charge of discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and a charge of publicly displaying a terrorist symbol.
Akram and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, had allegedly opened fire on those attending an event to mark the start of an eight-day Hanukah festival at Bondi beach on Sunday.
Police have said that Sajid – who was shot dead by officers at the scene – had legally obtained the guns used in the attack.
The mass shooting resulted 15 people being killed by the alleged attackers, including a 10-year-old child. Another 20 people remained in hospital with injuries on Wednesday.
The incident was declared a terrorist event on Sunday night.
The charges against Naveed come a day after the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Sunday’s attack appeared to have been inspired by Islamic State.
