Sydney, 17 December 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Three days after the devastating terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, investigators have charged a 24-year old man with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) said officers attended a hospital, where the man was formally charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

Other charges include discharging a firearm intending to cause grievous bodily harm and causing public display of a prohibited terrorist organization symbol.

Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, are accused of opening fire on crowds celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the beach on Sunday, killing 15 people and wounding dozens.

The 50-year-old father was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son was arrested and taken to hospital with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Naveed Akram regained consciousness from a coma on Tuesday. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 24-year-old refused to make a statement.

By Wednesday afternoon, 20 injured people were still being treated in hospital. Five of them were in critical condition, New South Wales health authorities said. It remained unclear whether the surviving attacker was included in those figures.

Prior links to Islamic State

Authorities say the attackers had links to the terrorist organization Islamic State. According to officials, several explosive devices and two homemade Islamic State flags were found in the son's car.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia's domestic intelligence agency had investigated the then-teenager six years ago over suspected links to an Islamic State terror cell in Sydney.

Australian media have questioned why the father was granted a firearms licence in 2023 despite the son having previously come to the attention of counter-terrorism investigators.

Scrutiny of security agencies

"We need to look back at what happened in 2019 when this person was looked at, the assessment that was made," Albanese told ABC Newsradio on Wednesday. Everything needed to be reviewed, he said, including coordination between intelligence services, security agencies and police.

The two attackers had spent a month in the Philippines shortly before the assault, where Australian media reported they received "military-style" training on the island of Mindanao.

Islamic State is active in the Philippines through local jihadist groups.

According to immigration authorities in Manila, the father was originally from India and held residency in Australia, while the son was born in Australia.

First funeral held for victim

Meanwhile, the first of the 15 victims has been buried.

The funeral service for Rabbi Eli Schlanger was held on Wednesday morning at the Chabad of Bondi, around one kilometre from the site of the attack at the famous Bondi Beach.

According to media reports, the 41-year-old was the father of five children, including a newborn. A number of political figures attended the service, including former prime minister Scott Morrison.

Australia is debating the consequences of the deadliest attack in the country's recent history. In the coming days and weeks, scrutiny is expected to extend beyond the country's already strict gun laws, which the government wants to tighten further.

It is also likely to focus on the work of police and intelligence agencies, immigration policy, measures to combat anti-Semitism and social and education programmes aimed at tackling hate and extremism.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Australians to respond to the attack with unity. "This attack was inspired by an ideology that is seeking to divide us," she told broadcaster ABC. "And so the most important thing we can do as a country is to come together."

Photo: dpa