Australia's Bondi beach gunman charged with terrorism, 15 murder counts - Here's all we know

Days after Sydney's Bondi beach terror attack, Australian Police has charged gunman Naveed Akram with terrorism, 15 counts of murder and a litany of other crimes on Wednesday (Dec 17). The terror attack killed 16 people, including the gunman, and injured 40 others. Two gunmen Naveed and Sajid Akram was accused of the ‘ISIS inspired attack.' The gunmen attacked Jewish festival Hanukkah event at Sydney's Bondi Beach. The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Authorities apprehended Naveed from the scene of the attack and Sajid Akram was killed during the shooting.

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New South Wales state police said, “Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community. Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.” Earlier, ABC News reported that Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, investigated Naveed Akram over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell, about six years ago. Reuters reported that Islamic state-linked networks are known to operate in the Philippines.

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The Australian Police arrested Naveed from the scene of the attack and Sajid Akram was killed during the shooting. They also found at least two Islamic State flags were found in their car. Australian authorities stated that both Sajid and Naveed had travelled to Philippines before the attack. It has also came to light that Sajid Akram is originally from Hyderabad, India, and migrated to Australia in November 1998. In a statement, India's Telangana police said that Akram’s family in Hyderabad had no knowledge of his “radical mindset" and he visited India only six times in the 27 years since he moved to Australia. Indian police have reassured that they are fully cooperating with Australian authorities and other relevant agencies on the matter.