The death toll from the mass shooting attack at a “Hanukkah by the Sea” event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach has risen to 15, Australian authorities confirmed on Wednesday. At least 29 people were wounded, including two children and two police officers, as gunmen opened fire on a large Jewish community gathering near Campbell Parade.
Among those killed were a 12-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, and two Chabad emissaries in Sydney—Rabbi Eli Schlenger and Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin—both prominent figures in the local Jewish community.
Australian police formally declared the incident a terrorist attack and transferred the investigation to the Counter-Terrorism Command.
Suspects Identified; No Additional Attackers Sought
Police identified the two attackers as Navid Akram, 24, who was wounded and remains hospitalized under guard, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed at the scene. Authorities said there are no additional suspects at this stage.
According to Australian media reports, Navid Akram had worked as a construction laborer until recently, while his father owned a fruit shop. Police also confirmed that two officers were critically injured during the response.
Footage from the scene showed civilians and police confronting the attackers. One of the shooters was subdued after being struck by return fire, while another was disarmed by a civilian identified as Ahmed al-Ahmad, a Syrian-born bystander who tackled the attacker and seized his weapon.
Victims Named as Community Mourns
The victims included Alex Kleitman, a retired civil engineer who immigrated to Australia from Ukraine and lived in Meterville. He was killed beside his wife, who survived the attack.
Rabbi Eli Schlenger, a father of five whose youngest child was born just six weeks ago, was among the organizers of the event. A central figure at the Bondi Chabad synagogue, he had previously addressed security concerns by urging community members to maintain public Jewish life despite growing fears.
Another victim was Reuven Morrison, a member of the Ansh Chabad Hasidic community in Sydney. Authorities also reported that some children were temporarily separated from their parents during the chaos.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos and Delayed Response
Survivors described scenes of panic and confusion as shots rang out during the celebration, which had drawn hundreds of families to the beach.
“We came to light Hanukkah candles like every year,” said Haim Levy, who attended with his wife and children. “Suddenly, we heard explosions. I grabbed my son, hid behind a car, and then we ran. We left everything behind. We are in shock.”
Several witnesses criticized the low level of security at the site and said it took police reinforcements approximately 15 minutes to arrive. Another attendee, Sean Goodwin, told Australian media that the shooting lasted around ten minutes. “It was hell on earth,” he said. “I saw people lying in pools of blood.”
A beachgoer who rushed to help victims told the Sydney Morning Herald that he found two young children hiding under a car, calling for their mother, who had been shot. “It felt like a war zone,” he said, adding that ambulances arrived nearly 45 minutes later.
Authorities Defend Response; Investigation Continues
At a press conference, the local police chief defended the response, stating that the Jewish community had arranged private security and that police acted swiftly once alerted. “Our officers did a fantastic job,” he said.
Police vowed to “turn over every stone” in the investigation, including examining possible ideological motivations behind the attack.
National and International Reactions
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a televised address, called the attack a “black day for Australia.”
“This was a deliberate attack against Australian Jews on the first day of Hanukkah,” Albanese said. “A day meant for joy and faith was turned into unimaginable horror. We will use every resource necessary to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.”
Israeli and Jewish leaders sharply criticized the Australian government, accusing it of failing to adequately confront rising anti-Semitism. President Yitzhak Herzog issued a statement of condolence, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the attack was foreseeable.
“When anti-Semitic demonstrations and incitement are allowed to continue for years, this is the result,” Sa’ar said. “We warned repeatedly. The Australian government must act now.”
Community in Mourning
As Australia grapples with the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in its history, Jewish communities across the country lowered flags and held vigils for the victims. Security around synagogues and Jewish institutions has been significantly increased nationwide. The investigation remains ongoing.
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