Australian police have charged a man with 59 offences after a deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach, as funerals for the victims began on Wednesday.
The attack occurred on Sunday when a father and son allegedly opened fire during the celebration, killing 15 people. The incident shocked the nation and heightened fears over rising antisemitism and violent extremism.
Funerals for the Jewish victims began amid growing anger over how the attackers were able to gain access to powerful firearms. One of the suspects had previously been investigated for possible links to extremist groups.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was also shot and emerged from a coma on Tuesday afternoon. New South Wales Police said the surviving suspect has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, a terrorism charge, and other serious offences.
Police said they will allege in court that the accused engaged in actions that caused death and serious injury to advance a religious ideology and instil fear in the community.
Authorities added that early indications suggest the attack was inspired by Islamic State, which is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia. Court documents identify Naveed Akram as the man charged. He remains under heavy police guard in a Sydney hospital and is scheduled to appear in court via video link on Monday.
Police said the father and son had travelled to the southern Philippines, a region long affected by Islamist militancy, weeks before the attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump told a Hanukkah event at the White House that he was thinking of the victims of what he described as a “horrific and antisemitic terrorist attack,” offering condolences and prayers for the wounded.
STATE GOVERNMENT TO PASS GUN REFORMS
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said parliament will be recalled next week to pass urgent reforms to gun and protest laws, following the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in more than three decades.
Minns said proposed reforms would include limits on the number of firearms a person can own and tighter restrictions on certain types of shotguns. The government is also considering changes to protest laws following terror incidents to reduce the risk of further tensions.
“We’ve got a monumental task in front of us,” Minns said. “It’s a huge responsibility to bring the community together. We need calm and unity, not division.”
FUNERALS FOR JEWISH VICTIMS BEGIN
A funeral for Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi Synagogue and a father of five, was held on Wednesday. Schlanger was known for his extensive work supporting Sydney’s Jewish community through Chabad, including outreach to prisons and public housing residents.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing criticism over whether his government did enough to curb antisemitism during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Albanese said the government is committed to eradicating antisemitism and supporting affected communities.
Authorities are also under pressure to explain how Sajid Akram was able to legally acquire high-powered rifles and shotguns used in the attack. Naveed Akram had previously been investigated by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency in 2019 but was not deemed a threat at the time.
MAN PRAISED AS HERO TO UNDERGO SURGERY
Albanese said Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, who tackled one of the gunmen and disarmed his rifle, is due to undergo surgery after suffering gunshot wounds. His family described him as a hero who acted without hesitation.
The family of 22-year-old police officer Jack Hibbert, who was shot twice during the attack, said he lost vision in one eye and faces a long recovery. Officials said 23 people remain hospitalised across Sydney.
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AMONG VICTIMS
Victims of the attack included a Holocaust survivor, a married couple who initially approached the gunmen, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. At a vigil, Matilda’s father urged the public to remember his daughter and honour her legacy.
Residents gathered on Bondi Beach on Wednesday to observe a minute’s silence. Several public events, including a New Year’s Eve celebration, were cancelled as the community continues to mourn.