The man accused of carrying out the deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach is being held in extreme isolation, locked up for at least 16 hours a day in a specialised 'jail within a jail' at Australia's most secure prison.
Life in Supermax Isolation
Naveed Akram, 24, is being held alone in a cell at the notorious Goulburn Correctional Complex's Supermax facility in New South Wales. The prison is designed for high-risk inmates and is infamous for its severe isolation protocols, which frequently involve 24-hour lockdowns. Akram has been classified as a 'category AA' inmate, a designation reserved for those deemed at the highest risk of engaging in or inciting terrorist activities.
Authorities are taking every possible measure to keep him separated from other prisoners. This includes keeping him apart from some of the country's most notorious criminals, such as Gary and Les Murphy, who were involved in the 1987 murder of nurse Anita Cobby. Akram is housed in the same wing as Roger Dean, who murdered 11 elderly residents in a nursing home arson attack in 2011.
Strict Regime and Constant Surveillance
Akram's existence is one of constant monitoring and restriction. He is under 24-hour electronic surveillance while in an isolation facility within the prison. He is not permitted to work and spends his time in a cell containing a concrete bed, desk, toilet, and shower.
While he has access to a private yard for up to seven hours of exercise daily, his interactions are severely limited. Supervised, pre-approved family visits are allowed, but all conversations must be conducted in English. All phone calls, except those to his lawyer, are monitored, and his legal visits are observed by Corrective Services officers.
"He is under strict isolation, it's the most secure facility in the country, with strict protocols for housing inmates who are deemed high risk, particularly those charged with terror-related offences," a prison source stated. "He is at extreme high risk to himself as well as from other inmates, given the nature of his charges."
The Alleged Attack and Political Fallout
Akram and his father, Sajid, 50, are alleged to have opened fire on a crowd at the Hanukkah by the Sea event on December 14 at Bondi Beach. The attack resulted in the deaths of 15 people and left dozens more wounded.
In response to the atrocity, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Thursday last week, 25 days after the attack. The inquiry will be led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, who has been tasked with investigating the nature and prevalence of antisemitism and religiously motivated extremism in Australia.
Justice Bell will examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged terror attack and make recommendations to strengthen the nation's social cohesion. The announcement followed initial reluctance from the Prime Minister, who had argued that a Royal Commission could be drawn-out and divisive.
