Lawyers representing Naveed Akram, the man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, asked an Australian court on Monday to impose a gag order preventing media outlets from publishing identifying details of his family, citing concerns over their safety.
Akram’s legal team requested that the court prohibit the publication of the names, home address, workplaces and schools of his mother, brother and sister. The defence argued that intense global media coverage of the case had placed the family at risk of harassment and potential threats.
Magistrate Greg Grogan extended an interim suppression order during a hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, allowing temporary protection of the family’s identities while the court considers the request in more detail. The order is expected to remain in place until further hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.
Akram, 24, faces 59 criminal charges linked to the December 2025 attack, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder, and a terrorism-related offence. Prosecutors allege he carried out the shooting alongside his father, Sajid Akram, during a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach.
Authorities say the elder Akram was shot dead by police at the scene after the attack. Investigators have alleged that the father and son were influenced by the militant group Islamic State and used multiple high-powered firearms in the assault.
The attack shocked Australia, a country known for strict gun laws, and was described by officials as one of the worst mass shootings in decades. The incident also triggered nationwide debate over extremism and security, particularly concerning antisemitic violence.
Akram has not yet entered a plea. The case is expected to return briefly to court next week before a longer hearing scheduled for April 8, when prosecutors are expected to outline the evidence against him.
Meanwhile, the Australian government has launched a national inquiry examining antisemitism and social cohesion in the country following the attack, with findings expected later this year.