Alleged Bondi gunman charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder

Published 46 minutes ago
Source: 9news.com.au
Alleged Bondi gunman charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder

Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences after a terrorist incident that claimed the lives of 15 people and injured 41 more at Bondi Beach on Sunday. 

The 24-year-old awoke from a coma in hospital yesterday, after he was critically shot and hospitalised during an alleged shootout with police. 

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprised of NSW Police, AFP, ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission, this afternoon charged him with a slew of offences in relation to the incident.

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Naveed Akram.

The offences include 15 counts of murder, committing a terrorist act, 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing public display of a prohibited terrorist org symbol and placing an explosive in/near a building with intent to cause harm.

Akram has faced court via a livestream from his hospital bed.

He's not well enough to be transferred to prison and will remain in hospital under police custody. 

He refused to speak with police, who waited three days for his medication to wear off before charging him today.

"For us to do that, it's important that he has appropriate cognitive ability at the time when you're on medication, we would argue for his fairness," NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a press conference earlier today.

"We need to make sure that he's able to understand exactly what's happening."

9News understands several lawyers were approached to represent Akram, but they refused. 

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Bondi Pavilion vigil

Investigators will allege officers arrived to find Naveed and his father Sajid Akram, 50, using long arm rifles to fire into crowds of people when they were called to Bondi Beach after 6.40pm on Sunday.

Several officers exchanged shots with the alleged gunmen, and two officers were shot in the process.

The alleged nine-minute assault came to an end when Sajid was shot dead, and Naveed was critically shot. 

A total of 15 people, aged between 10 and 87, were killed and another 41 people were injured.

Police will allege in court that Naveed committed actions that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community.

"Early investigations indicate it was an alleged terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia," a NSW Police statement reads.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said early investigations indicate that no other individual is expected to face charges.

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Naveed Akram (far right).

The investigation has widened across borders, after it was confirmed that the father and son had visited the Philippines for a 28-day trip in November.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos junior's spokesperson, Claire Castro, said the leader rejected "the misleading characterisation of the Philippines as an ISIS training hotspot".

"Currently, there is no validated report or confirmation that the individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of training in the Philippines," she said.

"Philippine authorities, in coordination with the international partners, continue to verify all available information, but no evidence has been presented to support claims that the country was used for terrorist training."

Naveed is an Australian citizen, while his father, Sajid, was born in Hyderabad, India.

Sajid migrated to Australia in 1998 but used his Indian passport to visit the Philippines.

Authorities are speaking to his family and friends overseas, who say they had little to do with him for the past 30 years.  

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Parliament of Australia (Getty)

If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available.

To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.

If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre here.

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