Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Prosecutors amass over 800 witness statements in case against man accused of Sydney massacre

News

Prosecutors amass over 800 witness statements in case against man accused of Sydney massacre
News

News

Prosecutors amass over 800 witness statements in case against man accused of Sydney massacre

2026-08-12 12:35 Last Updated At:12:40

SYDNEY (AP) — The case against a man accused of murdering 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah celebration involved more than 800 witness statements and more evidence had yet to be examined, a prosecutor told a court Wednesday.

Naveed Akram, 25, appeared briefly in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on 78 charges related to the Dec. 14 massacre at Bondi Beach that police allege was inspired by the Islamic State group.

Prosecutor Danielle New outlined the large quantity of evidence that was still being compiled for the prosecution case.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 28, when prosecutors will update the court on their progress.

More than 800 witness statements had already been examined along with video, ballistic evidence and data from seven electronic devices, New said.

But data from another 12 electronic devices and an improvised explosive device testing report had yet to be reviewed, she said.

Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, allegedly began their attack by throwing four IEDs toward a Jewish crowd, but the devices failed to explode.

Police described the devices as three aluminum pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb containing an explosive, gunpowder and steel ball bearings. While none detonated, police described them as “viable” IEDs.

The father was killed in a gunbattle with police and the son was wounded.

Naveed Akram has not entered pleas to the charges that include murder, attempted murder and committing a terrorist act.

A court sketch depicts accused Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram appearing via video link at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, Feb. 16, 2026. (AAP Image/Rocco Fazzari)

A court sketch depicts accused Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram appearing via video link at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, Feb. 16, 2026. (AAP Image/Rocco Fazzari)

TORONTO (AP) — Ernie Clement drove in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning, Brett Bateman had two RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Toronto’s George Springer walked to begin the sixth and went to third on Alejandro Kirk’s single before scoring on Clement’s fielder’s choice.

Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu hit solo homers, but the Red Sox lost their fourth straight. It’s Boston’s longest skid since losing four in a row from June 14-18.

Adley Rutschman went 1 for 3 and walked twice in his debut with the Red Sox. The three-time All-Star, picked up in a deal with Baltimore at the trade deadline, hadn’t played since July 18 with the Orioles because of left wrist inflammation.

Chase Lee (1-0) got five outs for his first big league win, and Spencer Miles earned his first career save.

Boston's Patrick Sandoval (1-1) allowed four runs, two earned, and eight hits in six innings.

Rafaela opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third, but Toronto answered in the bottom half with Bateman’s RBI double.

Leadoff homers by Abreu in the fourth and Rafaela in the fifth put the Red Sox up 3-1. Abreu’s homer was his 21st. Rafaela’s was his 16th.

The Blue Jays took advantage of a Boston error to tie it in the fifth. After Myles Straw reached on third baseman Caleb Durbin’s miscue, Charles McAdoo hit a sacrifice fly and Bateman added an RBI single.

Straw made it a two-run lead with an RBI single off Seth Martinez in the eighth.

Toronto’s Dylan Cease allowed three runs and five hits, including both homers, in five innings. He walked four and struck out seven, boosting his total to an AL-leading 191.

Cease had allowed only two homers in his previous 10 starts, both against Tampa Bay on July 20.

Blue Jays RHP José Soriano (9-6, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday against Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.32).

__

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela (3) can't make the catch as Toronto Blue Jays' Brett Bateman (21) hits an RBI double during third inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela (3) can't make the catch as Toronto Blue Jays' Brett Bateman (21) hits an RBI double during third inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) celebrates with his team after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) celebrates with his team after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Myles Straw (3) hits an RBI double against the Boston Red Sox during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Myles Straw (3) hits an RBI double against the Boston Red Sox during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Recommended Articles