- Naveed Akram appeared in court on Monday
- It marked his first appearance since December 14 attack
Alleged Bondi Beach shooter Naveed Akram has appeared in court for the first time since the December 14 attack that left 15 innocent people dead.
Akram appeared in Sydney‘s Downing Centre Local Court via videolink from Goulburn Correctional Centre on Monday.
He was seen on screen dressed in prison greens, with a shaved beard and long stubble.
Deputy chief magistrate Sharon Freund asked Akram: ‘Did you just hear what has occurred?’
‘Yeah,’ Akram replied.
Legal Aid solicitor Ben Archibold later asked for time to speak with his client.
‘Mr Akram, your solicitor is going to give you a call after,’ the magistrate said.
‘Yep,’ the accused terrorist replied.
Alleged Bondi Beach shooter Naveed Akram has appeared in court for the first time since the December 14 attack that left 15 innocent people dead
Akram was seen looking around the room at times and responded when spoken to.
He has been charged with 59 offences including terrorism, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder.
The court extended non-publication orders of the identities of several victims who were injured in the alleged attack on December 14.
The matter will be heard again in March.
A court suppression order allows victim-survivors to choose if and when they go public with their story and join other survivors such as Arsen Ostrovsky and hero tobacconist Ahmed Al Ahmed, who briefly disarmed Akram’s father.
Mr Archibold was asked outside court whether his client had shown any remorse.
‘They’re not conversations I’ve had at this stage, it’s all about the law … At the end of the day there’s not much more he can say,’ he said.
‘He’s just a client, and he’s a client that needs to be represented and we don’t let our personal view get in the way of our professional obligations.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in January a Commonwealth Royal Commission would be held (pictured, mourners at a memorial set up at Bondi Beach)
NSW Police were also given new powers, with protests temporarily banned across large parts of Sydney
Court documents allege Akram and his father Sajid, 50, had three pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb, and that the improvised explosive devices were thrown towards a group of people when the alleged shooting began, but they did not detonate.
The alleged attack unfolded at the Chanukah By The Sea event in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Sajid was shot dead by police while Akram was wounded and taken to hospital.
Two officers were injured, including one who lost sight in one eye.
The December 14 attack sparked calls for a Royal Commission, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bending to pressure after weeks of resisting, announcing in early January that one would be held.
Albanese faced pressure from the victims’ families, and the calls for a commission were backed by sports stars, national security authorities and MPs from within his own party.
The Albanese government also introduced the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, a new hate speech bill in response to the attack.
NSW Police were also given new powers, with protests temporarily banned across large parts of Sydney.
more to come
