Here is everything we know on the third day of mourning, following the Bondi terror attack that claimed 15 innocent lives and injured dozens more. We’ll update this story as we learn more.
What is the death toll and how many people remain injured?
As dusk approached on Sunday night, two gunmen shot dozens of bullets into crowds at Bondi Beach, where the Jewish community was celebrating the start of Hanukkah at the Chanukah by the Sea festival.
Bondi victims who have been identified so far, clockwise from left, include Matilda, 10, Peter Meagher, Yaakov Levitan, Dan Elkayam, Eli Schlanger, Marika Pogany and Alex Kleytman.Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
Fifteen victims have died in what NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared a terrorism incident. Their ages ranged from 10 to 87. As of 1pm on Wednesday, 21 people remained in hospital, with one in a critical condition and four in a critical but stable condition.
The two gunmen are father and son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram and 50-year-old Sajid Akram. The older man died at the scene while his son was critically injured and taken to hospital under police guard.
He awoke from a coma on Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed. He declined to be interviewed by police, who have charged him on Wednesday afternoon with almost 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act.
Two police officers, Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, were injured and remain in hospital.
NSW Police Constable Scott Dyson was injured in Sunday’s shooting.Credit: Dyson family
Ian Allwood, acting president of the NSW Police Association, said Dyson was in intensive care and potentially faced a months-long recovery.
Hibbert, 22, who has been in the police force for only four months, had been patrolling the Hanukkah celebration when the shooting began. He was shot in the head and shoulder, with his injuries resulting in a loss of vision in one eye.
Probationary constable Jack Hibbert was dragging members of the public to safety when he suffered a gunshot wound.Credit: NSW Police
Who were the victims?
The 13th victim was confirmed as father Boris Tetleroyd on Wednesday afternoon. He was at Bondi Beach with his son when the shooters opened fire. A fundraiser set up by his niece said the family has been left grieving the “sudden and violent” loss of Tetleroyd, who was the primary provider for his wife. His son is recovering in hospital.
Boris Tetleroyd succumbed to his injuries.
Other confirmed victims include Dan Elkayam, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Reuven Morrison, Alex Kleytman, Tibor Weitzen, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Marika Pogany, Edith Brutman and Boris and Sofia Gurman.
The youngest innocent life lost was that of 10-year-old Matilda. Shortly before bullets began raining down, Matilda was pictured playing with animals at the petting zoo at the festival.
Matilda pictured shortly before the Bondi massacre unfolded.Credit: Marija Ercegovac
The first shooting victims’ funerals took place on Wednesday, with Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Yaakov Levitan farewelled. Ten-year-old Matilda will be laid to rest on Thursday.
Dozens of police officers, a police rescue vehicle and scores of mourners formed a cordon for the funeral of Schlanger. NSW Premier Chris Minns, Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former prime minister Scott Morrison were in attendance.
Mourners greet Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s coffin as it arrives at Chabad of Bondi for the funeral on Monday.Credit: Dylan Coker
Who are the shooters, Naveed Akram and Sajid Akram?
The gunmen lived in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s west with Naveed’s mother and two siblings.
Current intelligence suggests they acted alone, but Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said this may change as the investigation continues.
Sajid, who arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998 and held a resident return visa, was shot and died at the scene. The fruiterer held a firearms licence for recreational hunting, legally possessed six guns – several of which were brought to Bondi – and was a member of a gun club, Lanyon said.
Naveed Akram has been identified as one of the alleged gunmen.Credit:
Naveed, a recently unemployed bricklayer, was born in Australia.
He was shot at the scene and taken to hospital in a critical condition. Police confirmed he awoke from his coma on Tuesday afternoon.
Police are investigating potential links to Islamic extremists after the pair travelled to the Philippines in November and a flag was found alongside improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in their car at Bondi Beach. The IEDs were seized, alongside several firearms.
Naveed came to ASIO’s attention in 2019 after preaching with a group linked to a religious centre once tied to an Islamic State cell.
He was flagged by authorities around the time a cell of IS acolytes was discovered in Sydney’s west, multiple sources briefed on the Bondi shooting investigation confirmed.
Among those arrested was self-appointed commander of IS in Australia, Isaac el Matari, who plotted to carry out a terror attack in Sydney’s CBD.
Police removing evidence from a short-term rental at Campsie.Credit: Nine News
Sources say Naveed moved in similar circles as Matari and other men charged, but was not deemed dangerous enough to warrant a criminal charge.
Police sources also told this masthead the Akrams had prepared a manifesto before the massacre.
Last weekend, the father and son told family they were heading on a fishing trip when, in fact, they were staying at a short-term rental in Campsie as they planned their attack. Counterterrorism police seized two guns from the property.
Asked by journalists whether there was a failure of intelligence because the Philippines trip had not triggered alarm bells, Lanyon said “not at all”.
What do we know about the hero bystanders and police officers?
Footage has emerged showing a brave couple who died attempting to stop Sajid by tackling him as he emerged, armed and draped in the Islamic State flag, from a car parked on Campbell Parade.
They have since been identified as Boris and Sofia Gurman.
Boris and Sofia Gurman try to stop one of the gunmen. Credit:
Earlier identified was hero Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled and wrestled a long-arm rifle from one of the Bondi shooters. He was left seriously injured.
Through his immigration lawyer, the 44-year-old said that he would do it again, despite being “riddled with bullets”.
Father of two Ahmed al Ahmed recovering from gunshot wounds.
Ahmed is understood to have no experience with guns and was at Bondi to grab a coffee with his cousin, Jozay Alkanj, when the terror unfolded. Alkanj said Ahmed told him he was “going to die” and to tell his family he “went down to save people’s lives”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed at St George Hospital.
The moment a hero police officer gunned down Sajid has also appeared in footage circulating on social media.
On Wednesday, NSW Police identified the officer who shot Sajid as local detective Cesar Barraza. His shots are also believed to have wounded Naveed.
Minns responded to questions from journalists about security at the Hanukkah event and said suggestions police did not “live up to their responsibilities” should be rejected.
Where at Bondi Beach did the shooting take place?
Footage showed two men firing what appeared to be rifles from the pedestrian bridge linking Campbell Parade and Bondi Pavilion.
The map below shows where the incident unfolded within the broader context of Bondi:
What have people said about it?
Albanese condemned the “act of evil antisemitism” against Jewish Australians and “every Australian”, while Minns said hearts were bleeding for the Jewish community.
US President Donald Trump sent well-wishes to Albanese and Australians over the “terrible” and antisemitic shooting.
On Tuesday, former prime minister John Howard said the death toll would have been “infinitely bigger” if not for the landmark gun reforms his government introduced following the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre. He described Albanese’s “greatest failure” as not providing the “moral leadership” to denounce antisemitism.
Former Australian prime minister John Howard at the Bondi Pavilion memorial site.Credit: James Brickwood
AFP commissioner Barrett said the massacre was a “barbaric attack against Jewish Australians” and warned against misinformation that could fuel “retribution-type incidences”.
“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State … these are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organisation, not a religion.”
Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Philip Zajac said that, in the many cases of hate he has seen on Melbourne’s streets, not one perpetrator has faced a single consequence, including criminal charges.
Co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin feared that the “shredded” Jewish community may never recover.
Jewish community leaders Alex Ryvchin (left) and David Ossip at Bondi Pavilion where vigils are being held and tributes laid.Credit: Oscar Colman
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, chief executive of Jewish House, who lost multiple family members in the shooting, said it was easy to “become very angry” and “blame people”, but this was “not what this is about”.
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said the profound and awful mass shooting was an attack on modern Australia and Australian values, telling Nine News the federal government should have done more in response to a report from Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal.
On Wednesday, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott criticised Labor’s antisemitism response, saying “there’s mostly been hand-wringing impotence” from every level of Australia’s leadership.
Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg called the Bondi shooting “the greatest stain on this nation” and warned of another attack if the Albanese government does not combat antisemitism.
Waverley Council announced New Year’s Eve celebrations in Bondi have been cancelled following Sunday’s attack.
What next steps will authorities take?
Minns and Albanese have both vowed to strengthen gun laws. The National Firearms Agreement established after the Port Arthur massacre will be renegotiated.
All states and territories have agreed to look at options to cap the maximum number of guns owned by one person, limit types of guns deemed legal and make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a gun licence.
First responders caring for victims outside North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club on Sunday.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
On Tuesday, Minns flagged changes that may allow police to use criminal intelligence, not just criminal records, to deny gun licences.
The Albanese government vowed to crack down on firearms imports, 3D printing and equipment that can hold large amounts of ammunition. A pledge was also made to eradicate antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism.
On Wednesday afternoon, Minns announced he would recall parliament on Monday and Tuesday next week to deal with a bill to tighten gun laws.
Meanwhile, Lanyon promised a “very thorough and transparent investigation” into the massacre. He could not tell journalists when the first police officer arrived after the first shots were fired.
Police confirmed the joint counter-terrorism team had begun an investigation, led by NSW Police and including the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.
More coverage on the Bondi terror attack
Bondi Beach incident helplines:
- Bondi Beach Victim Services on 1800 411 822
- Bondi Beach Public Information & Enquiry Centre on 1800 227 228
- NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
