Accused Bondi beach terrorist Naveed Akram has spoken briefly during his first court appearance in Sydney.
The 24-year-old appeared via video link in Downing Centre local court on Monday morning on 59 charges, including murder and terrorism offences over the Bondi beach shooting in December.
He is accused of carrying out Australia’s deadliest terror attack on 14 December when 15 people were killed and 40 were injured during beachside Hanukah celebrations.
His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police on the Sunday evening.
Naveed Akram spoke on Monday after a magistrate continued suppression orders protecting victims and survivors of the attack who have not chosen to identify themselves publicly.
“Did you just hear what I just said?” the deputy chief magistrate Sharon Freund asked. Akram replied “Yeah”.
Legal Aid solicitor Ben Archibold later asked for time to speak with his client.
“Mr Akram, your solicitor is going to give you a call after,” the magistrate said. “Yep,” the accused terrorist replied.
Akram was dressed in a green prison-issued jumper. He placed his hands in his lap as he listened to the brief hearing.
His hair was freshly shaven but he continued to sport the full-faced short beard he had during the 14 December mass shooting.
He and his father are accused of carrying out Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996 by targeting the Jewish festival of lights at Bondi beach.
After parking near a footbridge on Campbell Parade, the men allegedly tossed three pipe bombs filled with steel ball bearings and a “tennis ball bomb” into the Hanukah celebration at Archer park before opening fire.
None of the pipe bombs detonated, despite preliminary police analysis finding they were viable.
A box-like bomb was allegedly found in the boot of the car while two hand-painted Islamic State flags were also in the vehicle.
Police allege 55 people were shot during the attack. Fifteen people were killed including 10-year-old Matilda, Holocaust survivors and a retired police officer.
A court suppression order allows victim-survivors to choose if and when they go public with their story and join other survivors such as Arsen Ostrovsky and hero tobacconist Ahmed Al Ahmed, who briefly disarmed Akram’s father.
Akram is next due in court on 9 April.
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