Summary: A magistrate’s statement of alleged facts says Sajid and Naveed Akram trained with shotguns in rural New South Wales, threw four viable improvised explosive devices at a Hanukkah crowd and carried out a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach on December 14 that killed 15 people. Sajid was shot dead by police; his son faces terrorism and murder charges. Investigators recovered bomb-making equipment, 3D-printed firearm parts and extremist material, and governments are proposing new hate‑speech and firearms measures.
Bondi Beach Attack: Court Documents Reveal Firearms Training, Undetonated Bombs and Extremist Videos
Screenshots from videos allegedly show Naveed Akram practicing shooting in a rural location, suspected to be in New South Wales. - New South Wales Police
A magistrate’s statement of alleged facts released on Monday offers new detail into the planning and execution of the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 people on December 14. Court filings say 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, conducted firearms training in a rural area, threw multiple improvised explosive devices at a crowd celebrating Hanukkah, and recorded videos expressing extremist views.
Evidence From Court Files
The redacted filing includes still images taken from video footage that prosecutors say show the pair handling rifles, firing shotguns and moving in ways consistent with tactical training. Investigators say the training footage was filmed in October at an undisclosed rural location in New South Wales.
Police allege the shooters packed an IED in the trunk of their vehicle. - New South Wales Police
The court document alleges the men threw four improvised explosive devices (three pipe bombs and a tennis-ball-sized device) at the crowd just before opening fire; none detonated, but authorities contend the devices were viable. Images included with the filing also show a suspected fifth device discovered in the trunk of the vehicle used to drive to Bondi.
Alleged Motive And Recordings
Prosecutors say the pair recorded videos in which they voiced views aligned with “religiously motivated violent extremism.” In one recording filmed in front of an image resembling an Islamic State flag, the men reportedly condemned “the acts of Zionists” and outlined what the document describes as a justification for the attack.
Three pipe bombs and tennis ball bomb were allegedly found at the scene. - New South Wales Police
“There is evidence that the Accused and his father… meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months,” the filing states.
Investigative Timeline
According to the filing, the men visited the Bondi area on December 12; closed-circuit footage allegedly shows them walking along a footbridge near Archer Park, which police say was the vantage point used during the shooting two days later. Police also reported the pair traveled to the Philippines in November, where hotel staff said they rarely left their rooms.
The men are alleged to have visited Bondi Beach two days before the attack. - New South Wales Police
Items Recovered
In searches conducted after the attack, officers seized two mobile phones, a homemade firearm, bomb-making equipment, 3D-printed parts for a shotgun speed loader, and a longbow with 12 arrows. Investigators also recovered copies of the Quran, one with passages highlighted.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. Naveed Akram survived and, according to the document, was shot in the abdomen; he has been charged with terrorism, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder. From his hospital bed he declined a formal interview on legal advice. His next court date is scheduled for April.
The Bondi Beach shooting suspects seen leaving a rental in Campsie - New South Wales Police
Political And Legal Response
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly apologized to Australia’s Jewish community. The federal government announced plans to introduce new hate-speech legislation and a proposed aggravated offense for those who radicalize children; Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said 17 of 33 people currently before the courts in related matters are children.
At the state level, the New South Wales parliament convened an emergency session to debate tighter gun controls, including a proposal to cap the number of firearms recreational license holders may possess. Under discussion is a limit of four firearms for recreational licensees and up to 10 for farmers — a proposal that has drawn criticism from agricultural groups.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to review evidence and piece together the sequence of events that led to the attack. The court document adds to investigators’ emerging picture but represents allegations that must be proven in court.
