August M
Fresh court documents released this week have provided a clearer picture of how a deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach unfolded. The material became public after a temporary suppression order was lifted, allowing new details to emerge.
The documents, published with redactions, form part of the prosecution case against the sole surviving suspect and outline what police allege was a planned terrorist act.
Court disclosure
According to the BBC, a suppression order had previously restricted the release of a police fact sheet to protect survivors’ identities.
That order was revoked on Monday, clearing the way for the documents to be made public.
Police allege the material shows deliberate preparation in the weeks and months before the attack on a Hanukkah celebration on 14 December, when 15 people were killed.
The court files include summaries of CCTV footage, mobile phone videos and investigative findings compiled after the incident.
Alleged preparation
Rather than a single action, police describe a pattern of behaviour they say demonstrates planning.
This includes alleged firearms training, recorded statements about motivation, and movements around Bondi Beach days before the shooting.
One video from October is described as showing the two men seated in front of an Islamic State flag. Police say they are heard condemning “the acts of ‘Zionists’”, while Naveed Akram is “recorded appearing to recite, in Arabic, a passage from the Quran”.
Investigators also point to footage they say shows the pair practising with guns in rural New South Wales and visiting Bondi shortly before the attack, which police argue supports claims of reconnaissance.
Charges and response
Fourteen people died at the scene, with another later dying from injuries. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during an exchange of fire. Naveed Akram, 24, survived and now faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and a terrorism offence.
The attack has fuelled political pressure over antisemitism, gun laws, and public safety. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to the Jewish community, saying, “The government will work every day to protect Jewish Australians,” notes the BBC.
New South Wales has recalled parliament to debate new gun and protest laws, despite concerns from civil liberties groups.
Sources: BBC
