Bondi Beach Shooting: Alleged Gunman Charged as Funerals Start

Post by : Saif Nasser

A man accused of opening fire at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and terrorism, police said Wednesday. The attack, carried out by a father and son, killed 15 people and injured many, raising fears of antisemitism and violent extremism in Australia.

Funerals for the victims began on Wednesday. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi Synagogue and father of five, was among the first to be honored. Schlanger was known for helping Sydney’s Jewish community, visiting prisons, and supporting Jewish residents in public housing.

The accused, Naveed Akram, 24, remains in hospital under heavy police guard. His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. Authorities said the father and son had traveled to the southern Philippines, a region with Islamist militant activity, weeks before the attack. Early indications suggest the shooting was inspired by the Islamic State.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said parliament will reconvene on December 22 to pass urgent gun and protest law reforms. Proposed changes include limiting the number of firearms an individual can own and making certain shotguns harder to access. Rules for large street protests may also be tightened following terror events.

Several individuals were praised for acts of bravery during the attack. Ahmed al-Ahmed, who disarmed one of the shooters despite being shot, was called a hero. Police officer Jack Hibbert, 22, lost vision in one eye while protecting others. As of Wednesday, 23 people remain in hospitals across Sydney.

Victims included a Holocaust survivor, a young girl named Matilda, and several couples. Residents and visitors at Bondi Beach held a minute of silence to honor the victims, and planned New Year celebrations on the beach were canceled.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will work with the Jewish community to end antisemitism and promised sweeping reforms to gun laws. Authorities are reviewing how the attackers were able to legally acquire high-powered firearms despite previous intelligence checks.

This tragedy has left Australia grieving while authorities move to strengthen gun and safety regulations to prevent similar attacks in the future.