Naveed Akram, the 24-year-old accused of a shooting at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, has applied to a court for an order to prevent media from publishing details about his immediate family members – his mother, brother, and sister. He faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder, in what prosecutors describe as a lone-wolf attack.

At a hearing on Monday, Akram did not appear in person, with his lawyer requesting a non-publication order on the names, addresses, and places of work and school for his family at the Downing Centre Local Court. Magistrate Greg Grogin granted a temporary order, citing global interest in the case, but noted that Akram's mother's name had already been widely published, asking, "Hasn't the horse already bolted on that?"

A lawyer for News Corp Australia, which owns Sky News Australia and numerous newspapers, present at the hearing, indicated the company would likely challenge the order. The matter is scheduled to return to court briefly next week. Following the shooting, Akram's mother spoke to media to defend her son.

Akram's father, Sajid Akram, was shot and killed in a shootout with police at the scene. Naveed Akram, critically injured, has yet to enter a plea, uttering only one word – "yeah" – during his first court appearance last month. Prosecutors allege that the two gunmen, inspired by Islamic State, acted alone and were not part of a wider cell. The attack is Australia's worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Source: www.bbc.com