Bondi shooting suspect Naveed Akram, 24, charged after ‘slaughtering 15’ with dad as funerals for victims begin

Improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags were also found in his car, police said
BONDI Beach shooting suspect Naveed Akram has been charged after allegedly slaughtering 15 people alongside his dad.

Police say the 24-year-old has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, after waking from a coma on Tuesday.

He was arrested at the scene of Sunday’s mass shooting and taken to hospital with critical injuries.

His case was due to be heard in court on Wednesday afternoon.

Police allege Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, opened fire on crowds gathered at Bondi Beach for an event marking the start of the eight-day Hanukah festival.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by officers at the scene.

Among the charges laid against Naveed Akram are 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, placing an explosive in or near a building, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and publicly displaying a terrorist symbol.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he expected the 24-year-old to be charged after he regained consciousness.

Albanese has also said the attack appeared to have been inspired by Islamic State (ISIS).

Investigators claim Sajid Akram had legally obtained the firearms used in the attack, according to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.

He also said the father and son had allegedly travelled to the Philippines last month, with the purpose of the trip still under investigation.

Authorities in Manila confirmed the pair listed Davao as their destination when they entered the country on November 1, before leaving on November 28.

Police further allege that improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags were found in a car registered to Naveed Akram that was parked at the scene.

The charges come as the first funerals are held for the victims of the massacre.

The service for British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, took place today.

Schlanger was an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi Synagogue and a father of five.

Speaking through tears, his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, said his “biggest regret” was he “could have done more” to tell him “how much we love him”.

“I hope he knew that. I’m sure he knew it,” he added.

“But I think it should’ve been said more often.”

Thousands have gathered at Bondi Pavilion to lay flowers and hear speeches from rabbis and Jewish leaders.

At the memorial, Rivky Shuchat from Jewish Education Matters said: “All we can do now is kindness. That’s the only thing we can do. There’s nothing more, nothing less.”

Fifteen people were killed in the attack, including 10-year-old Matilda Britvan, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach massacre.

Matilda was shot in the stomach in front of her six-year-old sister during the horror attack.

She had been celebrating Hanukkah with her parents Michael and Valentyna on Bondi Beach, Sydney, when the bloodbath began.

Twenty others remained in hospital on Wednesday.

Police say the investigation into the attack is ongoing.