Bondi shooter Naveed Akram charged by NSW Police over terrorist attack
Naveed Akram has been charged after waking from his coma. (ABC News)
In short:
Bondi gunman Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences over the mass shooting on Sunday.
The offences include 15 counts of murder, committing a terrorist act and 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.
The 24-year-old awoke from a coma on Tuesday and attended his first court hearing via audio-visual link from his Sydney hospital bed.
Bondi gunman Naveed Akram has been formally charged with 59 offences over the attack which claimed 15 lives.
The offences include 15 counts of murder, committing a terrorist act and 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.
Naveed Akram remains in hospital under police guard and was represented by a Legal Aid lawyer for his first court appearance on Wednesday, which took place via audio-visual link in a virtual court before Magistrate Daniel Covington.
The 24-year-old made no application for bail and it was formally refused with his case scheduled to be mentioned again on December 22.
The maximum penalty for committing a terrorist act and murder are life imprisonment.
A second gunman, Akram's father Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene.
People gather to lay flowers at scene of Bondi Beach shooting. (ABC News: Jak Rowland)
Just after 6:40pm on Sunday, the pair opened fire on a community gathering celebrating the Jewish festival Hanukkah near the iconic beach.
Large crowds on Wednesday gathered at a Bondi synagogue for the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who had been the head of the Chabad mission in Bondi for 18 years.
He leaves behind a wife and young children, including a two-month-old baby.
Dozens of people were injured, including four children and two police officers.
Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert are among 20 of those injured who remain in hospital.
Attack allegedly inspired by Islamic State
NSW Police have maintained a heavy presence at the scene of the shooting. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on Sunday night declared the shooting a terrorist attack based on the incident taking place at a religious festival, the types of weapons used and items found at the scene.
Police investigators now say early indications pointed to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.
"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," a NSW Police statement said.
The police investigation, which has been described as "massive" and "complex", is ongoing.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said "significant digital material" was being forensically examined, and further search warrants would be executed as part of the investigation.
She said there was no ongoing threat or known planned attacks in the wake of Sunday's incident.
Sajid Akram held a registered firearm licence since 2015 for recreational hunting and was permitted to possess six firearms.
Long-arm guns were used in the attack and all firearms have since been seized.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has recalled parliament ahead of Christmas next week to consider proposed limits on the number of firearms a licensed shooter could own, reclassify straight shotguns and prohibit belt-fed ammunition magazines in those weapons.