First court appearance for Bondi Beach attack suspect

A man accused of carrying out Australia's deadliest mass shooting in three decades at Bondi Beach last year has appeared in court for the first time.

- SHWETA SHARMA

Naveed Akram faces 59 charges in relation to the attack on a Jewish event at Sydney’s Archer Park that killed at least 15 people and injured dozens. He appeared via video link yesterday at the Downing Centre Local Court and spoke briefly, mostly in single-word answers.

The magistrate extended suppression orders, which were made late last year, to protect the identities of victims and survivors after they opted not to be publicly identified.

Mr Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, are accused of targeting Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah in an antisemitic attack that sent shockwaves around the world. It was Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996, and the worst terror attack targeting Australians since the 2002 Bali bombings.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene.