Alleged Bondi gunman seeks order to suppress family's identity

Published: 09 March 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

The man accused of carrying out Australia’s worst mass shooting has sought a court order to prevent media from publishing details of his immediate family, arguing their safety is at risk .

Naveed Akram, 24, faces 59 charges including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act over the December 14 attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney . His father, Sajid Akram, 50, who police allege was the second gunman, was shot dead by police at the scene .

At a hearing in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, Akram’s lawyer applied for non-publication and suppression orders covering the names, residential address, and places of work and study of his mother, brother and sister . The application was made on the basis of “not only their mental safety but their physical safety”, Magistrate Greg Grogin noted .

Magistrate Grogin granted an interim suppression order until the matter returns to court next week for full argument . However, he questioned whether such an order could be effective given the level of reporting already published about the family .

“Hasn’t the horse already bolted on that?” the magistrate asked during proceedings . He also acknowledged that any order could not prevent media outlets outside Australia from publishing the information .

News Corp Australia, which owns Sky News Australia and numerous prominent newspapers, indicated it would likely challenge the proposed order . Barrister Benjamin Regattieri told the court media organisations would oppose it because of the “very high threshold” required for suppression orders based on safety concerns .

Akram’s mother spoke to media in the aftermath of the shooting to defend her son . Separate suppression orders protecting the identities of non-fatal victims of the Bondi attack were also extended during Monday’s hearing .

Police allege Naveed and Sajid Akram opened fire on crowds at the Chanukah by the Sea festival shortly before 7pm on December 14, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more . The victims’ ages range between 10 and 87 . A constable and probationary constable suffered gunshot wounds during an exchange of fire with the gunmen .

The attack was Australia’s worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and shocked a nation with strict gun laws . The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team formally declared the incident terror-related .

Court documents allege the father and son spent months preparing for the attack . Police claim the pair filmed themselves two months beforehand sitting in front of a wall displaying an Islamic State flag while discussing aspects of their plans . They allegedly recited passages from the Koran and condemned the actions of “Zionists” while several firearms with ammunition were visible behind them .

Investigators also allege the pair travelled to the southern Philippines in November and later undertook firearms training at a property in the NSW Southern Tablelands . Two days before the shooting, police say the men visited Bondi Beach and walked across the footbridge overlooking Archer Park .

CCTV footage from the early hours of December 14 allegedly shows Naveed Akram leaving an Airbnb property the pair had rented in Campsie while carrying “long and bulky items wrapped in blankets” . Police claim those items included firearms, improvised explosive devices and Islamic State flags .

Police allege the pair had three pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb in their possession at the time of the attack . The improvised explosive devices were made from sealed aluminium piping containing explosive black powder and steel ball bearings . The bombs did not detonate, and police allege they were thrown towards a group of people at Archer Park before the shooting began .

The elder Akram had legally acquired several high-powered weapons used in the attack . Police claim the pair later drove to Bondi, parked near the footbridge, and unfurled an ISIS flag over their vehicle before opening fire at 6.47pm .

Akram, who was critically injured in the shootout with police, has been held in custody and has not yet entered a plea to the 59 charges against him . Those charges include 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm .

He appeared briefly via video link in court last month, the first time he had been seen publicly since the attack, answering only “yeah” when asked if he had heard a discussion about suppression orders .

The case will return to court next week for a brief mention, before a longer hearing on April 8 where the prosecution will outline its brief of evidence . The suppression application will be argued in full at the next hearing .

Prosecutors have alleged that the two gunmen, inspired by Islamic State, acted alone and were not part of a wider cell . There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Akram’s surviving family members .

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