Sydney Shooter Charged with 59 Crimes, Elderly Couple's Heroic Attempt

Bondi Beach Attacker Faces Extensive Charges After Hanukkah Massacre

Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old alleged gunman in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting, has been formally charged with 59 criminal offenses including 15 counts of murder and terrorism charges. The attack, which occurred during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025, claimed 15 lives and left 41 people injured, with five still in critical condition. Akram, who recently awoke from a coma after being critically wounded by police, appeared via video link from his Sydney hospital bed where he remains under police guard.

The charges against Akram include committing a terrorist act, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and displaying a prohibited terrorist symbol. Police allege the attack was inspired by Islamic State and intended to advance a religious cause while causing community fear. Akram's father, Sajid Akram (50), was shot dead by police at the scene after the pair allegedly opened fire on the crowd using long-arm rifles.

Heroic Elderly Couple's Final Moments Captured on Dashcam

Newly released dashcam footage has revealed the courageous final moments of Boris and Sofia Gurman, a married couple of 34 years who attempted to disarm one of the attackers. The video shows 69-year-old Boris Gurman, a retired mechanic, wrestling with the gunman and temporarily taking control of the weapon before both he and his 61-year-old wife Sofia were shot at close range.

'They were exactly who they were: people who instinctively chose to help, even at great personal risk,' the Gurman family said in a statement. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the couple as 'Australian heroes' who demonstrated extraordinary bravery in the face of terror.

The attack has revealed multiple acts of heroism, including Ahmed al-Ahmed who successfully disarmed a gunman and survived with gunshot wounds, and Reuven Morrison (62) who threw bricks at the attackers, creating a crucial pause in the shooting that allowed others to escape. Morrison did not survive the attack.

Youngest Victim Remembered as Community Mourns

Among the 15 victims was 10-year-old Matilda Poltavchenko, whose Ukrainian-born parents spoke at a memorial service attended by 2,000 people on Bondi Beach. Matilda's parents, who immigrated to Australia over a decade ago, urged the community to never forget their daughter's name. 'We will never be a happy family again,' said Matilda's aunt Lina Czernik in an emotional interview.

The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, including Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman who died shielding his wife from bullets, and Rabbi Eli Schlanger (41), known as the 'Bondi Rabbi,' who was among the first victims buried this week. Hundreds attended Schlanger's funeral near the attack site, with heavy police presence throughout the ceremony.

Government Responds with Sweeping Gun Law Reforms

In response to the attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened national cabinet to implement the most significant gun law reforms since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The proposed measures include limiting the number of firearms an individual can own, restricting gun licenses to Australian citizens only, accelerating the implementation of a National Firearms Register, and imposing additional restrictions on weapon imports.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has recalled parliament to consider emergency legislation, aiming to have new laws in place before Christmas. 'This tragedy has exposed gaps in our current system that we must address immediately,' Minns stated during a press conference. The alleged attackers held firearms licenses, with Sajid Akram having maintained a category A, B license since 2015 for recreational hunting purposes.

The reforms will also address concerns about 3D printing technology for firearms and equipment capable of holding large ammunition capacities. The federal government has pledged to work closely with the Jewish community to combat antisemitism, with the attack being described by authorities as a terrorist incident specifically targeting Sydney's Jewish population.

As flowers continue to accumulate at Bondi Beach memorial sites, the community grapples with both grief and determination. The attack represents one of Australia's deadliest mass shootings in nearly three decades and has reignited national conversations about gun control, community safety, and the ongoing threat of extremist violence.