Surviving suspect in Bondi Beach shooting formally charged

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Authorities in Australia on Wednesday formally charged the surviving suspect in the Bondi Beach shooting that left 15 people dead and 40 injured.

The unidentified 24-year-old has been charged with 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, committing a terrorist act, causing public display of a prohibited terrorist organization symbol and placing explosives near or in a building with intent to cause harm.

"Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community," the New South Wales Police Force said in a statement.

The Sunday shooting at the iconic Australian beach is alleged to have been perpetrated by a father-son duo motivated by Islamic State ideology and targeting Jews at the start of Hanukkah. Authorities have said the shooting was well planned.

Related

• Police release photos of person of interest in Brown University shooting
• Boston Bruins honor victims of Brown University, Bondi Beach shootings
• MIT professor found dead; police open homicide investigation

The 50-year-old father was shot dead at the scene, while the son suffered critical injuries and was hospitalized.

The shooting's deceased victims range in age from 10 to 87. Of the injured, 23 remained in hospitals across the state as of Wednesday morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns told reporters in a press conference.

The NSW Police Force said earlier Wednesday that Jack Hibbert -- a 22-year-old probationary constable who suffered two gunshot wounds during the shooting -- has undergone multiple surgeries and while he is expected to live he has lost vision in one of his eyes and "now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead, with additional surgeries required."

Constable Scott Dyson, the second police officer shot during the shooting, remains hospitalized in critical condition, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said during the press conference.

"The policing family has wrapped around both officers and will ensure that we are there for the long run," he said.

The announcement came as the first funerals of the deceased victims were being held for Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan.

Lanyon called on the community for calm, saying "this is not a time for retribution."

"This is a time for calm, a time for respect and a time for peace. The last thing we need in the community at the moment is division," he said.

"What we saw last Sunday is completely unacceptable. It's not something that belongs in New South Wales and it is certainly not something that New South Wales police will tolerate."

The shooting has prompted officials to strengthen gun laws in the country. Minns also announced plans to introduce legislation to prohibit protests following incidents of terrorism.

"I am firmly of the view, having spoken with many community members, not just from the Jewish community, but right across Sydney, that protests right now in Sydney would be incredibly terrible for our community," he said.

"In fact, they would rip apart our community, particularly protests about international events."