Sydney, 16 February (H.S.): Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old suspect in December's deadly Bondi Beach shooting, appeared via video link in a Sydney court on Monday for the first time since his arrest, as Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund extended suppression orders shielding survivors' identities.

Charged with 59 offenses—including 15 counts of murder, one count of committing a terrorist act, and 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder—Akram spoke briefly, confirming he understood proceedings while dressed in a green prison jumper from Goulburn's supermax facility.

The December 14 rampage targeted a Chanukah by the Sea Jewish event in Archer Park, killing 15 innocents—including Akram's father Sajid, fatally shot by police—and injuring dozens, among them four children and two officers still hospitalized.

Court documents reveal the pair allegedly conducted firearms training in regional NSW in October, filming themselves firing shotguns tactically, and recorded a video before an Islamic State flag where Naveed recited Koranic verses, condemning Zionists as their motivation.

Upon arriving near Archer Park, the Akram duo allegedly hurled several improvised explosive devices into the crowd, which failed to detonate; police classified the assault as an ISIS-inspired terrorist act based on weaponry, religious targeting, and recovered items.

Akram's lawyer, Ben Archbold, told reporters outside court it remains premature to indicate a plea, as the brief of evidence is pending; he described his client—whom he visited in supermax—as coping as well as can be expected under stringent conditions, emphasizing professional duties over personal views.

No bail application was made, with the case adjourned to April; suppression orders, first imposed pre-Christmas, permit survivors to self-identify publicly while protecting others, amid ongoing investigations into this Australia's deadliest shooting since 1996.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar