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Court hears request to shield gunman's relatives
Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old accused of killing 15 people at a Jewish festival in Sydney's Bondi Junction, has asked a court to block media from publishing personal details of his immediate family.
Temporary order granted amid safety fears
Akram's lawyer applied for a non-publication order covering the names, addresses, workplaces and schools of his mother, brother and sister. Magistrate Greg Grogin approved an interim ban on Monday, citing intense global attention on the case.
The magistrate questioned whether the restriction was still necessary, noting that Akram's mother's name had already appeared in multiple reports. "Hasn't the horse already bolted on that?" he remarked.
Media outlet signals challenge
A representative for News Corp Australia, which owns Sky News Australia and several major newspapers, indicated the company would likely contest the order. The case is scheduled to return to Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court next week for further discussion.
Family's public statements and police confrontation
Akram's mother spoke to reporters following the 14 December attack, defending her son. His father, Sajid Akram, was killed in a shootout with police at the scene after allegedly opening fire.
Naveed Akram, who sustained critical injuries during the incident, has not yet entered a plea. During his first court appearance last month, he responded with a single word-"yeah"-when asked if he had heard discussions about extending existing suppression orders.
Prosecution alleges lone-wolf attack
Prosecutors claim the two gunmen, allegedly inspired by Islamic State, acted independently and were not part of a broader network. The Bondi Junction attack is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Akram faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder.
