Arabic version: المسلح يسعى إلى حجب هوية عائلته في قضية إطلاق النار في بوندي

Naveed Akram, the gunman involved in the Bondi Beach shooting, is seeking a court order to suppress the identities of his family members due to safety concerns. According to ABC News, Akram’s lawyer expressed that there would be ongoing interest in the family, which could jeopardize their safety.

The 24-year-old is currently in custody and faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist attack related to the December incident. During a court appearance in Sydney, Akram did not appear on screen, and his public defender, Richard Wilson, made the application for the suppression orders.

Magistrate Greg Grogin raised concerns about the effectiveness of the request, noting that Akram’s mother’s name had already been widely published. Wilson countered that there were real safety concerns for the family, citing previous incidents.

The court granted interim non-publication orders, allowing time for further consideration of the application, which is set to return to court next week. A lawyer representing News Corp Australia indicated that they would likely oppose the suppression request, emphasizing the high threshold required for such orders based on safety grounds.

The Bondi Beach shooting occurred on December 14, resulting in the tragic deaths of fifteen individuals during a Jewish event, Chanukah by the Sea, in Archer Park. Akram’s father, Sajid Akram, was killed by police during the incident, which has drawn significant media attention.