The first funerals for victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack were held in Sydney on Wednesday, as Australian authorities confirmed the assault was inspired by the Islamic State group. Among those mourned was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, one of fifteen people killed when gunmen opened fire on a Jewish festival.
A Community in Mourning
A funeral service for Father-of-five Rabbi Schlanger took place at Chabad of Bondi, where he served as assistant rabbi. The synagogue was filled with emotional mourners. Rabbi Schlanger grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, before moving to Australia.
During a tearful address, his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, told the congregation it was "unthinkable we talk about you in the past tense". He announced that rabbis would continue a tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles on Bondi Beach on Sunday, the first night of the festival. The funeral of another victim, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, was also held later on Wednesday.
Attack Details and Suspect's Charges
The attack occurred at 6.47pm local time on Sunday in the Archer Park area of the iconic beach. According to New South Wales police, father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on more than 1,000 people attending a Hanukkah celebration.
Sajid Akram was shot by police and died at the scene. His son, Naveed, awoke from a coma on Tuesday afternoon and is expected to survive. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated he expected Naveed Akram to be charged in the "coming hours", pending his medical condition being deemed appropriate by doctors.
Mr Albanese confirmed the terrorists' motivation, stating: "The evidence is that they were motivated by the sort of ideology of the Islamic State, that there were flags present in the back of their vehicle... This is a perverse ideology, a terrorist ideology that does not respect human life, and that is antisemitic in character."
Aftermath and Political Response
The Prime Minister vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and to eradicate antisemitism and terrorist ideology from society. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the state parliament would be recalled next week to introduce a package of measures to tighten gun control and give police enhanced powers during terror situations.
In the wake of the attack, 21 people remain in Sydney hospitals. NSW Health confirmed four are in a critical condition, with one other critical but stable.
Among the injured were two police officers. Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, was shot twice—once in the head and once in the shoulder—and has lost vision in one eye. His family praised his courage and selflessness. Constable Scott Dyson remains in a critical but stable condition after further surgery.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon pledged full support for the injured officers, stating the force would find appropriate duties for Constable Hibbert as he recovers.
