THE alleged gunman accused of carrying out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach last December has been charged with 19 additional offences, further escalating an already extensive criminal case linked to an attack that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.
Police allege the assault, which stunned Australia and triggered national security concerns, was inspired by Islamic State ideology.
Reuters reported Naveed Akram, 24, was initially charged with 59 offences in the days following the attack, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and one terrorism-related offence.
His lawyer, Leonie Gittani, told a Sydney court on Wednesday that prosecutors had now filed a further 19 charges, according to local media reports.
Court records indicate the new charges include 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.
Akram has not yet entered a plea.
His father, Sajid Akram, 50, who was also accused of involvement in the attack, was shot dead by police at the scene.
The incident has deeply unsettled Australia, a country with strict firearms laws, and has intensified public debate over gun control, counter-terrorism measures and rising concerns about antisemitism.
In response to the attack, the government has launched a formal inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion, with findings expected to be released in December.
Authorities continue to treat the case as one of the most serious acts of mass violence in recent Australian history, with prosecutors steadily adding charges as investigations progress and forensic reviews continue. - June 10, 2026
