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Court documents reveal detailed planning behind Bondi attack
Two suspects in the deadly 14 December Bondi Beach shooting allegedly spent months preparing the assault, including reconnaissance visits and explosives training, according to newly released court files.
Timeline of the attack
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram are accused of opening fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people and injuring dozens. The documents state the pair threw improvised explosives-including a "tennis ball bomb"-before the shooting, though none detonated.
Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram, charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and one of terrorism, was released from hospital on Monday and transferred to prison.
Evidence of premeditation
Police allege the men conducted reconnaissance at Bondi Beach two days before the attack, with CCTV footage showing them near the footbridge where the shooting later occurred. The documents describe the pair as having "meticulously" planned the assault over several months.
In October, mobile phone footage captured the suspects sitting before an Islamic State (IS) flag, making statements condemning "Zionists" and reciting Quranic verses, according to police. Separate footage from the same month shows them conducting firearms training in rural New South Wales, firing shotguns and moving tactically.
Final movements before the attack
On the morning of 14 December, CCTV recorded the men leaving a rented Campsie property carrying long, blanket-wrapped items-later identified as two shotguns, a Beretta rifle, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and IS flags. They arrived at Bondi at 18:50 (09:50 GMT), placed the flags in their car windows, and removed the weapons before walking toward the footbridge.
From there, they allegedly threw three pipe bombs and a "tennis ball bomb" toward the crowd, though none exploded. Moments later, they began firing into the gathering, killing 14 at the scene and one more later in hospital.
Political fallout and calls for action
The attack has intensified scrutiny of rising antisemitism in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese facing boos at a memorial event on Sunday. He apologized to the Jewish community and pledged new legislation targeting extremism and hate speech.
New South Wales recalled its parliament on Monday to debate stricter gun laws and protest regulations. While NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged some may view the measures as excessive, he defended them as necessary for public safety. Civil rights groups and pro-gun advocates have criticized the proposals as overly restrictive.
