Shooting at Bondi Beach: Man Accused Of Killing 15 people Appears In Court

Sydney — A man accused of killing 15 people during a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach appeared in court Monday for the first time since being discharged from the hospital.

Naveed Akram, 24, attended the hearing via video link from Goulburn Correctional Centre to Downing Centre Local Court. He did not enter pleas to charges that include murder and committing a terrorist act. The proceeding primarily addressed the extension of a suppression order protecting the identities of victims and survivors who have not publicly identified themselves.

Defense attorney Ben Archbold stated that it remains premature to indicate how his client will plead. Akram was injured during a gunbattle with police following the Dec. 14 attack at a Hanukkah celebration. His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in the exchange.

The accused is scheduled to return to court on April 9. Authorities have launched three separate inquiries into what is described as Australia’s worst alleged terrorist attack in decades, including a royal commission examining antisemitism and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.