Bondi terrorist loses bid to block family coverage

A man accused of carrying out the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack targeting Australia’s Jewish community lost a bid on Thursday to prevent media from reporting the identities of his family.

Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire along with his father, Sajid, on a Chanukkah celebration on Sydney’s ‌Bondi Beach last December, killing 15 people. Sajid was killed during a confrontation with police during the shooting. The attack was inspired by the Islamic State terror group, according to police.

Akram was charged in February with terrorism, 15 counts of murder, dozens of counts of causing wounds to a person with the intent to kill, and planting explosives.

The attack sparked national soul-searching about antisemitism, anger over the failure to shield Jewish Australians from harm, and promises to stiffen gun laws.

Among the victims of December’s attack were an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, a couple who confronted one of the gunmen, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda, who was described at her funeral as a “ray of sunshine.”