Naveed Akram: Man accused of Bondi Beach terror attack charged with 59 offences

Naveed Akram, the man accused of joining with his father to unleash a terror attack on members of the Jewish community at Bondi Beach, has been charged with 59 offences.

The 24-year-old, who is under police guard, woke from a coma on Tuesday after being shot by police.

In a statement, NSW police confirmed Mr Akram will appear before court via video link from his hospital bed where he remains under guard.

The 59 charges he is facing include 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and charges of committing a terrorist act and public display of a prohibited terrorist symbol.

NSW Police commissioner Mal Lanyon had earlier told reporters police had been waiting for his medical condition to improve before he could be arrested or charged.

“It’s important he has appropriate cognitive ability. For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening,” Mr Lanyon said.

Police allege Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram, 50, opened fire on hundreds of innocent people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi on Sunday, killing 15 and injuring dozens more.

In Wednesday’s statement police confirmed they would allege that Mr Akram “engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community”.

“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia,” the statement said.

He has also been charged with discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and with placing an explosive in/near a building with intent to cause harm.

Sajid Akram died in the aftermath of the attack after being shot by a police officer who had snuck up on the pair as they allegedly carried out the mass shooting.

It is alleged that homemade bombs and ISIS flags were found in Naveed’s car that had been parked close to where the mass shooting was carried out.

In the weeks before, the father and son duo travelled to the Philippines – a breeding ground for Islamic extremism and terrorists.

The Nightly has confirmed Sajid travelled on an Indian passport while Naveed used his Australian passport.

They returned just a fortnight before allegedly staging Australia’s worst massacre since Port Arthur.

The first of the funerals for the victims were held on Wednesday morning amid a heavy police and security presence, with popular Rabbi Eli Schlanger remembered as a “loving” father, friend and mentor in a touching farewell.

The 41-year-old father of five had been a key organiser of the Chanukah by the Sea event which was allegedly targeted by the Akrams.

The Rabbi’s father-in-law Rabbi Yehoram Ulman delivered an emotional tribute during a service inside his local synagogue Chabad of Bondi, saying he had become “a son to us”.

“Your dedication to me… I could rely on you for everything. You’re my son, my friend, my confidant. Eli was the best father, the best husband, the best son,” he said.