The sole surviving suspect in the Bondi Beach mass shooting that claimed 15 lives has been formally charged, as the first of the victims were laid to rest. The attack targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Suspect Faces 59 Charges After Waking from Coma
Naveed Akram, 24, awoke from a coma on Tuesday and was subsequently charged with a total of 59 offences. These include 15 counts of murder and the grave charge of committing a terrorist attack. He remains under armed guard in hospital.
A New South Wales courts service spokesman confirmed a hearing took place on Wednesday 17 December 2025. No application for bail was made. The case was adjourned until 8 April for a mention hearing, with another hearing scheduled for 22 December to address reporting restrictions.
Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, are accused of opening fire on crowds of more than 1,000 people celebrating Hanukkah in the Archer Park area of Bondi Beach. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene.
Community Mourns as First Funerals Are Held
The first funerals for the victims were conducted on Wednesday, plunging the community into deep mourning. Among those buried was London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41. A father-of-five who grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, he served as assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, where his funeral was held.
In a tearful address, his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, told the congregation it was “unthinkable we talk about you in the past tense.” He vowed that rabbis would continue the tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles on Bondi Beach this Sunday.
The funeral of Rabbi Yaakov Levitan was also taking place later on Wednesday.
Officers Injured and Government Response
Two police officers were non-fatally shot during the exchange of gunfire. One has been named as probationary constable Jack Hibbert, 22, who had been in the force for only four months. Shot in the head and shoulder, he has lost vision in one eye.
His family stated, “In the face of a violent and tragic incident, he responded with courage, instinct, and selflessness, continuing to protect and help others whilst injured.” The other injured officer, Constable Scott Dyson, was in a critical but stable condition after further surgery.
Twenty people remain hospitalised in Sydney following the attack.
Visiting the injured, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “act of terror and act of antisemitism.” He pledged to give security agencies whatever powers are necessary and to eradicate such hatred from society, noting the attack appeared to be ISIS-inspired.
He also praised Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, a father-of-two from Sydney, as an “Australian hero” for tackling a gunman and wrestling his weapon away, saving lives.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced state parliament would be recalled next week to introduce tighter gun control measures and grant police powers to block protests during terror situations, warning of a “combustible situation.”
