Photographer charged over alleged theft of victim’s camera gear after Bondi Beach terror attack

A Sydney man has been charged after police allege he stole camera equipment from a victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack and later pawned it in the days following the mass shooting.

Fifteen people were killed in the attack on 14 December during a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, including former NSW police officer and photographer Peter Meagher.

The alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, has been charged with murder and terrorism-related offences.

Police allege the 35-year-old accused was working as a photographer at the event when the violence unfolded, and took camera equipment belonging to Meagher in the aftermath before disposing of it through a pawn transaction shortly afterwards.

Meagher, a 61-year-old retired detective sergeant, had also been attending and photographing the “Chanukah by the Sea” event at the time of the attack. He was a long-serving NSW Police officer and well known within his local sporting community.

During the wider investigation into the incident, detectives later identified the missing equipment and linked it to the alleged offender.

On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant in Sydney’s north-western suburbs, where they allegedly located and seized a camera, handcuffs, electronic devices, and a small quantity of suspected methyamphetamine found in a vehicle.

The 35-year-old was arrested and charged with larceny and knowingly dealing with stolen property.

He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear before Blacktown Local Court on 22 June.