Thousands of mourners have gathered on Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach for a solemn vigil, just one day after a horrific terror attack claimed 16 lives during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. The incident now stands as the second-worst mass shooting in Australia's history.
The Attack on Campbell Parade Footbridge
On Sunday night, the festive atmosphere was shattered when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, positioned themselves on a footbridge linking Campbell Parade to the Bondi Pavilion. From this vantage point, they opened fire on the crowd below, sending people screaming and sprinting for cover in a scene of chaos and terror.
Sajid Akram, a licensed firearms holder, was shot and killed by responding police officers. His son, Naveed, was also shot by police and remains in hospital under guard. He is currently in a coma but is expected to survive.
Remembering the Victims
The human cost of the attack is profound, with 15 innocent bystanders killed alongside the gunman. Nine of those victims have now been publicly identified. The youngest was 10-year-old Matilda. The list of those lost includes:
- Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a British-born leader of the Chabad community.
- Dan Elkayam, 27, a French national.
- Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor.
- Tibor Weitzen, a beloved husband and father.
- Reuven Morrison, an assistant at the Wellington Street synagogue.
- Peter Meagher, a retired detective sergeant from the New South Wales Police.
Political Tensions Flare at Memorial
Grief and anger spilled over at Monday night's memorial service, where Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was loudly heckled by sections of the crowd. Mourners shouted accusations, with one man yelling, 'Blood on your hands Tony Burke!' and a woman crying, 'Shame Tony Burke, Shame!'
The frosty reception for the minister came just hours after state and territory leaders agreed to a major overhaul of gun ownership laws at an emergency cabinet meeting. The Albanese government has faced sustained criticism over its perceived handling of rising antisemitism following the October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023, and the Bondi tragedy has prompted a fresh wave of public fury.
The community now begins the long process of healing, as questions about security, extremism, and firearm regulation dominate the national conversation.
