Bondi Beach Shooter Charged With 19 New Counts

The man accused of murdering 15 people in an antisemitic mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach is facing 19 additional charges, according to newly released court records.

Naveed Akram, 24, is accused of opening fire in December as families gathered at Bondi Beach for a Chanuka celebration. He had already been charged with dozens of serious offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing an act of terrorism.

The new charges include multiple counts of shooting with intent to murder, wounding with intent to murder, and discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest.

Akram is being held in a high-security prison and has not yet indicated how he will plead.

His father and alleged co-conspirator, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police during the attack.

The additional charges further expand one of the most serious terrorism cases in Australia in recent years. Authorities have described the shooting as antisemitic, with the attack targeting Jewish families and community members gathered for the holiday celebration at one of Sydney’s best-known beaches.

The case has drawn national attention in Australia and concern from Jewish communities abroad, particularly because of the public nature of the attack and the number of families present at the event. The Bondi Beach gathering was part of Chanuka celebrations, a period normally marked by public candle-lighting ceremonies and communal events.

Australian officials have said the investigation remains active, including into how the attackers obtained weapons and whether others had prior knowledge of the plot. Police have also reviewed security arrangements around Jewish institutions and public Jewish events in the wake of the attack.

Akram is expected to appear again in court as prosecutors proceed with the expanded case. The added charges suggest authorities are continuing to build the prosecution beyond the murder and terrorism counts already filed.

The attack has intensified scrutiny of antisemitic violence in Australia and the ability of law enforcement to prevent threats against Jewish communities. It also raised questions about security at large public religious gatherings, particularly events that are openly advertised and held in major public spaces.

For now, prosecutors appear focused on establishing the full scope of Akram’s alleged role in the shooting, while police continue investigating whether the attack involved a broader support network or planning beyond the two men already identified.