Lawyers for Bondi Beach shooting suspect Naveed Akram seek gag order to protect family

RiddleMaster · 2026-03-09T12:22:20+00:00

Lawyers for Naveed Akram, accused of a deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, requested a court order to protect his family's identities due to safety concerns. Akram faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder, as the case prompts calls for stricter gun laws and action against antisemitism in Australia.

RiddleMaster

2026-03-09 12:22:20

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SYDNEY, March 9 (Reuters) - Lawyers for a man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting on Sydney’s Bondi Beach sought a court order on Monday to stop media naming his family, saying their ‌safety was at risk.

Police allege 24-year-old Naveed Akram opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on December 14, killing 15, in Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades.

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His father, Sajid Akram, who police also accuse of carrying out the shooting, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Police ⁠say the men were inspired by the Islamic State militant group to carry out the attack using several high-powered weapons the elder man had legally acquired.

Lawyers for Naveed Akram on Monday requested a court in Sydney prohibit the publication of the names of his mother, brother and sister, as well as their home address and places of work and schooling. Magistrate Greg Grogan extended an interim suppression order until next month, citing the global media interest in ‌the ⁠case.

Akram faces a total of 59 charges over the attack, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and a terror offence. He is yet to enter a plea.

The case is expected to briefly return ⁠to court next week, before a longer hearing on April 8, where the prosecution will outline its brief of evidence.

The Bondi attack shocked a country with strict gun laws ⁠and fuelled calls for tougher controls and stronger action against antisemitism.

Australia last month launched a government-backed inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion in the country ⁠which is expected to report its findings by December this year.

The government has already responded by tightening gun laws and introducing new legislation against hate speech.

Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast.

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Alasdair Pal

Thomson Reuters

Alasdair leads the team covering breaking news in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Before moving to Sydney, he covered general news in New Delhi, where he reported from the front-line of the coronavirus pandemic in India and the insurgency in Kashmir, as well as extended periods in Pakistan and, most recently, in Sri Lanka covering its ongoing economic crisis. His reporting on Islamic State suicide bombings in Sri Lanka in 2019 was highly commended as the Society of Publishers in Asia awards. He previously worked as a financial reporter in London, with a particular interest in hedge funds and accounting frauds.

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