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National
Luke Costin, Kat Wong and Farid Farid

Loved ones grieve as Bondi accused charged with murder

Mourners gathered to farewell Rabbi Eli Schlanger as funerals began for victims of the Bondi attack. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

Accused terrorist Naveed Akram has been charged with murder amid an outpouring of grief as victims of the Bondi massacre are laid to rest.

Mourners wept at the Chabad of Bondi synagogue as they gathered to commemorate the life of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the 15 people killed during Hanukkah celebrations at nearby Bondi Beach.

Emotions also ran high on Wednesday at services for Rabbi Yaakov Levitan and Reuven Morrison, who was remembered for his courage in hurling bricks at one of the gunmen.

The youngest victim of the attack, 10-year-old Matilda, is expected to be laid to rest on Thursday.

The parents of shooting victim Matilda, 10, at a memorial in Bondi
The parents of young victim Matilda attended a memorial in Bondi as they prepare to lay her to rest. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

Having woken from a days-long coma, Naveed Akram was charged on Wednesday with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder - one for each victim - and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The 24-year-old did not appear or apply for bail during a brief court hearing.

He and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, are accused of using long-arm guns to fire at a crowd of people celebrating the Jewish festival of lights at Australia's most famous beach on Sunday night.

Naveed is also charged with 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and single counts of discharging a firearm in public, causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist symbol, and placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm.

The case was adjourned until April 8.

Australian-born Naveed was critically injured after being shot by police.

His father, a licensed gun owner who arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, died at the scene.

Authorities have previously confirmed Naveed came to the attention of ASIO in 2019 over his associations with others.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has previously said officers found two home-made Islamic State flags in a car, registered to Naveed, where they also defused two improvised explosive devices.

"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," NSW Police said in a statement confirming the charges.

Investigators were forensically examining "significant digital material" and further search warrants would be executed, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.

Chris Minns, Anthony Albanese and Rabbi Dr Benjamin Elton
Chris Minns and Anthony Albanese attended a memorial service at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Wednesday flagged nation-leading caps on gun owners and a crackdown on protests aimed at maintaining social cohesion.

Legislation is being drafted to invoke a terrorist designation in certain circumstances that would allow police to reject a group applying to hold a demonstration.

"My concern is that a mass demonstration in this combustible situation with our multicultural community could light a flame that would be impossible to extinguish," Mr Minns told reporters.

When pressed on which demonstrations would be covered and whether it was targeting pro-Palestine rallies, Mr Minns said it would be a "blanket rule".

Parliament will be recalled from summer break on Monday and Tuesday so the legislation can be dealt with before Christmas.

More than one million firearms are registered in NSW, including more than 300 to one antique collector.

While the per-person cap on firearms was being determined, Mr Minns said five was too many in reference to the limit recently put in place in Western Australia.

Other changes would reclassify straight pull-up and pump-action shotguns, reduce magazine capacity for shotguns and change appeal rights once police withdraw a firearm licence.

Labor was contemplating a royal commission into the shooting, Mr Minns said.

Forty-one people, including four children, were taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the incident.

Seventeen people remain in hospital, including one in a critical condition. 

Four others are critical but stable, including Constable Scott Dyson who underwent surgery on Wednesday after being wounded in the attack.

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert poses with a dog in Sydney
Young policeman Jack Hibbert was shot in the head during the attack and lost vision in one eye. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE)

Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert lost vision in one eye after being shot in the head and will require additional surgeries and treatment.

In charged scenes at a growing floral tribute at the beach, former treasurer Josh Frydenberg suggested the Jewish community had been abandoned and pointed the finger at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"It's time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child," Mr Frydenberg, who is Jewish, told reporters.

Mr Albanese has defended the government's efforts to combat anti-Semitism, while Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has set up an internal task force to develop policies on the issue as well as counter-terrorism and deradicalisation.

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