Bondi Beach Shootings: What Charges Have Been Laid and the Laws Behind Them

On 14 December 2025, a horrific mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. One of the two alleged shooters, identified as Naveed Akram, 24, was critically wounded, arrested at the scene and later charged with a suite of offences, including murder and terrorism, while his father and alleged accomplice Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police.

This attack has been formally treated as a terrorist incident by NSW Police and the national Joint Counter Terrorism Team, and the charges laid reflect the gravity of the conduct and the alleged motivations behind it.

A Horrific Night at Bondi Beach

On the evening of 14 December, two men opened fire on crowds near Archer Park by Bondi Beach at an event known as Chanukah by the Sea. Witnesses described random and sustained gunfire directed into the crowd, causing widespread casualties. Police responded swiftly, and in the ensuing confrontation, one of the gunmen was killed and the other critically injured.

Police later classified the incident as a terrorist act, citing ideological inspiration linked to overseas extremist groups and symbolic evidence recovered at the scene.

Overview of the Charges Against Naveed Akram

On 17 December 2025, the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team announced that the surviving suspect had been charged with 59 offences arising from the attack. These charges span the full range of conduct alleged during and associated with the shooting.

The principal offences include:

1. 15 Counts of Murder

Under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The prosecution must prove that the accused intentionally caused the death of another person with malice aforethought. Given the scale and context of the Bondi attack, multiple deliberate shots into a crowded public gathering, each death is separately charged.

2. 40 Counts of Wounding/Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent to Murder

Also under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) (ss 33 and 35), causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder is an indictable offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The charges reflect alleged conduct where victims were wounded but survived.

3. Committing a Terrorist Act

Australian law defines terrorist acts more expansively than common criminal conduct. Under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) (Division 101), a “terrorist act” includes violent conduct that is intended to advance a political, religious or ideological cause and to intimidate a population or coerce a government. The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team has charged this offence based on evidence that the attack was inspired by extremist ideology.

4. Discharge of a Firearm with Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm

State firearms offences under the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) and related provisions in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) criminalise the use of firearms to cause serious harm. Each discharge with intent to injure is separately charged where there is evidence of intent or recklessness sufficient to support the count.

5. Cause Public Display of a Prohibited Terrorist Organisation Symbol

The display of symbols associated with proscribed extremist groups can itself be an offence under Commonwealth terrorism legislation (Criminal Code 1995 (Cth)). Charges of this kind signal that authorities believe the display of extremist symbols was part of the broader offensive message and motivation.

6. Placing Explosives with Intent to Cause Harm

Police also allege that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were prepared and placed by the shooters. Under state and federal law, including offences relating to explosives in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), possession or placement of explosives intended to cause harm attracts severe penalties, often aligned with those for terrorist conduct.

The Terrorism Angle: Legislation That Applies

Terrorism offences in Australia are principally codified in the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Key elements include:

• Terrorist Act (s 100.1): Conduct that causes serious harm or death and is done to coerce a government or intimidate a civilian population.
• Association with Terrorist Organisations (s 102.7) and related planning/preparation offences.
• Public advocacy of terrorism (s 80.2).

Where there is “terrorist intent”, meaning the act is purposefully ideological or politically motivated, these federal laws apply in addition to, and often on top of, state indictable offences like murder. The Commonwealth and state police coordinate through Joint Counter Terrorism Teams to investigate and prosecute these matters.

The classification of the Bondi attack as terrorism aligns with this framework and allows prosecutors to pursue evidence of personal ideology, planning and connections to extremist influences.

Sentencing Considerations

If convicted of the murder counts, terrorism offences and related charges, the surviving accused faces some of the highest available penalties under both Commonwealth and NSW law. Murder and terrorism conduct often result in life imprisonment without parole, particularly where:

• the offence was premeditated,
• multiple victims were targeted,
• the conduct was ideologically motivated,
• and public safety was gravely endangered.

Australian courts also consider aggravating factors such as victim vulnerability and community impact.

Broader Legal and Policy Responses

In the weeks following the attack, the Prime Minister and NSW Government signalled a range of responses, including:

• proposals for tougher hate crime and extremist symbol laws,
• a national firearms buyback program in response to the attack,
• and legislative reform aimed at strengthening community safety and counter-terrorism frameworks.

Law enforcement operations such as Operation Arques and the expanded Operation Shelter reflect a sustained policing response, incorporating intelligence and counter-terrorism resources across federal and state agencies.

The Importance of Separate Offences

It’s worth emphasising that the charges are not simply repeated counts of the same conduct. Each charge, from murder to terrorism to firearm-related counts, represents a distinct element of criminal liability recognised under Australian law. Prosecutors often use multiple charges to ensure that if one element fails at trial (e.g., proving specific intent), other offences may still sustain convictions.

Final Thoughts: Gravity and Complexity of the Proceedings

The Bondi Beach shooting represents one of the most serious criminal and terrorist incidents in recent Australian history. The surviving accused now faces an exceptionally broad suite of charges that reflect both:

• traditional criminal law principles (e.g., murder, grievous bodily harm), and
• modern counter-terrorism law designed to address ideologically-driven mass violence.

As the matter proceeds through the NSW court system, beginning with early hearings in Local Court and culminating in trial, legal arguments will likely engage deeply with:

• the mental state and intent of the accused,
• terrorism definitions under the Commonwealth Criminal Code,
• evidentiary links between ideology and conduct,
• and the intersection of state and federal jurisdiction.

Given the ongoing nature of the case, readers should also be mindful that prosecutorial strategies and additional charges may develop as investigations continue.