Bondi Beach Shooting Suspect Charged with 15 Counts of Murder: Police

Authorities in Australia have charged a man in connection with the shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach over the weekend that killed 15 people and injured multiple others.

Naveed Akram, 24, was named as one of the suspects in the initial stages of the investigation, according to local media cited by the BBC. The second suspected gunman — Naveed’s father, Sajid Akram, 50 — was shot by police and died at the scene, the outlet reported.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force confirmed that “the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team has formally charged a 24-year-old man alleged to be one of two gunmen responsible for the Bondi Beach mass shooting that claimed the lives of 15 people,” per a news release.

Forty-one people, including four children, were taken to hospital following the shooting, which occurred at around 6:40 p.m. local time on Sunday, Dec. 14. 

NSW Police confirmed in Wednesday’s release that “a 24-year-old Bonnyrigg man” had been charged with 59 offenses, including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder.

Police have confirmed that two officers suffered gunshot wounds in the attack.

“Multiple officers exchanged fire with the gunmen, and two officers – a constable and probationary constable – suffered gunshot wounds,” police said in Wednesday’s release.

“During the incident, one gunman – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police and died at the scene,” the post said. “The second gunman – his 24-year-old son – suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.”

The release stated, “There are currently 20 patients continuing to receive care across several Sydney hospitals,” adding, “Those who died are still in the process of being formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87.”

“Of the two injured officers, the constable is in a critical but stable condition, while the probationary constable is in a stable condition,” police said.

The release confirmed that NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM had “declared the incident terror related.”

The NSW Police Force did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

Australian authorities have said the shooting was an act of antisemitism, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was “an act of pure evil, an act of terror and an act of antisemitism,” per CNN.

The victims included 10-year-old Matilda Poltavchenko, who is being mourned by her family and community, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, who had a son in October, and married couple Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61.

“We were so targeted in that little space, we were like sitting ducks,” Pearl, who was present at the celebration but declined to give her last name, told The New York Times.

The shooting has led to calls by Australian leaders for stricter gun laws following what is now the country’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades, the outlet reported.

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In condemning the attack, Albanese and other leaders have also called for fighting the rise of antisemitism in the country.

“It’s not random,” Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy on antisemitism, said following the attack, per The New York Times. “It is an attack on the Jews of Australia. It’s an attack on Australia as well.”