Australian authorities on Wednesday charged a suspect in the Bondi Beach shooting with 59 offenses, including terrorism and murder.
Naveed Akram, 24, is charged with 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and one count each for committing a terrorist act, discharging firearms, placing explosives and publicly displaying a terrorist organization symbol, New South Wales police said.
“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.
The department said early indicators pointed to a “terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.”
The second suspect, Akram’s 50-year-old father Sajid, was shot dead by police officers at the scene on Sunday. The younger Akram was critically wounded, police said; earlier Wednesday, they said they were waiting for his condition to stabilize before they brought charges against him.
“It’s important he has appropriate cognitive ability. For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
The two suspects are alleged to have opened fire during a celebration of Hanukkah at the iconic Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring dozens more. Two police officers were also injured in the attack, NSW Police said.
Five people were still in critical condition Wednesday, New South Wales’ health department said Wednesday.
Charges against Akram came as the first funerals for the victims of the attack began Wednesday around the Bondi Beach area under tight security. Police said they had partially opened road access but were maintaining a crime scene.
