A hero of the Bondi Beach terror attack who disarmed one of the two shooters is a humble tobacconist now set for a million dollar windfall because of his fearless act of bravery.

Ahmed El-Ahmed, 44, courageously disarmed Sajid Akram, 50, as he and his son Naveed, 24, opened fire on a crowd of parents, children and beachgoers celebrating a Jewish Hanukkah event on Sunday night. 

Viral footage showed Mr El-Ahmed tackling the shooter, ripping the weapon from his hands, and then pointing it towards the gunman as he backed away. He then calmly placed the rifle at the base of the tree.

Mr El-Ahmed, who suffered multiple gun shot wounds, has been declared a national hero as Australians and people around the world – including US President Donald Trump – praised his bravery.

Now, it has been revealed the 44-year-old – previously reported as being a fruit shop owner – has actually run Cigara tobacconist and specialist convenience store in Sutherland, in Sydney’s southern suburbs, since 2021. 

Mr El-Ahmed is a Muslim who arrived in Australia in 2006 from Syria. He sells gifts, toys, board games, leather bags, and mobile phones and accessories from his shop on Old Princess Highway. 

His cousin Jozay Alkanj, said the pair were in Bondi on Sunday to get coffee when the horror unfolded.

He said they had passed the Hanukkah event and were kindly asked if they wanted food, but did not take up the offer.

Ahmed El-Ahmed, 44, (pictured) has been declared a national hero after he bravely disarmed one of the alleged Bondi Beach massacre shooters

Mr El-Ahmed runs a tobacconist (pictured) in Sutherland 

‘It was then just 10 minutes later this happened. It was very crazy – we went behind the cars, we were seeing that people were shooting very near to us,’ Mr Alkanj told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Alkanj said after his hero cousin was shot while disarming the gunman he said he was ‘going to die’ and asked ‘please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save people’s lives’.

The shop was closed on Monday as Mr El-Ahmed, who has two daughters aged five and six, remains in hospital after undergoing surgery for wounds to his left arm and shoulder.

‘He’s done the first surgery, I think he’s got two or three more,’ Mr Alkanj said.

Another cousin, Mustafa, said he hopes Mr El-Ahmed makes a complete recovery.

‘Still he is in hospital and we don’t know exactly what is going on, the doctor says he is OK,’ he told 7NEWS.

‘We hope he is okay, he is a hero, 100 per cent he is a hero.’

More than 12,000 people have already contributed to a GoFundMe that has been set up by Bondi-Junction based business, Car Hub, to help support Mr El-Ahmed in the wake of the terror attack. 

Hero Ahmed El-Ahmed’s cousin Jozay Alkanj (pictured) has revealed the pair were in Bondi to get coffee when the alleged terror attack unfolded

Mr El-Ahmed is pictured being tended to after being injured on Sunday

Mr El-Ahmed has undergone surgery after suffering gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hand

The fundraiser has accrued more than $908,000 as of 6.30pm on Monday. 

Among the donors is one of the world’s richest men, Jewish investment banker Bill Ackman, who has contributed $100,000. He is the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. 

‘After witnessing the extraordinary actions of the hero who helped disarm one of the attackers during the Bondi tragedy, an act that prevented the loss of countless more lives, we felt compelled to act,’ the fundraiser organisers said.

‘In a moment of chaos and danger, he stepped forward without hesitation. His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety.’

Fifteen people were killed and 40 more were injured during the attack. The victims range in age from 10 to 87, with as many as 12 people still in critical condition in hospitals across the city. 

Naveed Akram’s mother Verena said he had told family he gone to Jervis Bay with his father for a weekend of fishing and swimming before the attack. 

Akram was apprehended at the scene of the shooting and taken to hospital under police guard in critical but stable condition, where he remains in a coma. His father died at the scene.

The father and son’s home in Bonnyrigg as well as a rental property in Campsie they were staying at over the weekend have been raided by police.  

Ahmed El Ahmed’s father, Mohamed, said he felt pride at his son’s heroic actions and that he had previously served with the police and had always wanted to protect people

Bondi hero Ahmed El-Ahmed is visited in hospital on Monday by NSW Premier Chris Minns

Mustafa (pictured) described his cousin as a hero 

Alleged gunman Naveed Akram is in hospital in a critical condition, but expected to recover

Emergency workers are seen attending to an injured person as crowds struggle to process the shooting 

New South Wales premier Chris Minns described Mr El-Ahmed as a ‘genuine hero’.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: ‘We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives.’

US President Donald Trump also praised the heroic act.

‘In Australia, as you’ve probably read, there’s been a very, very brave person who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters,’ Trump said. 

‘[He] saved a lot of lives, a very brave person who is right now in the hospital, pretty seriously wounded. I have great respect for the man who did that.’

The shooting has officially been declared a terrorist incident, which will allow ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and state police to deploy special powers.

Despite the family being known to ASIO, the father had held a gun licence for 10 years and owned six guns – all of which have been accounted for.

‘One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate threat perspective,’ ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said on Sunday night.

‘So obviously we need to look into what happened.’

ASIO has since committed to reviewing the issue and searching for others who might be plotting similar attacks, though its director-general stressed there was no indication anyone else in the community had a similar intent.

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Peter Meagher, known as ‘Marzo’, was a beloved Randwick Rugby Club icon and first grade team manager, who was tragically among the victims of this weekend’s terror attack at Bondi Beach

10:00, 15 Dec 2025Updated 10:00, 15 Dec 2025

Peter Meagher has been named as one of the victims of the Bondi Beach attack(Image: Randwick Rugby)

The Australian rugby community is in deep shock following the tragic loss of an “absolute legend” in Sunday’s terror attack at Bondi Beach. The horrific incident, which targeted Jewish attendees at a Hanukkah event, has claimed 15 lives and left 27 people hospitalised, six of whom are critically ill.

Among the victims was Peter Meagher, affectionately known as ‘Marzo’, a stalwart of Randwick Rugby Club. Tributes have been flooding in from across the rugby world for this much-loved figure.

Meagher, the grandson of Wallabies international and Hall of Fame member Wally Meagher, had been a key part of Randwick since 2018, serving as the first-grade team manager. He was also a “highly-respected” referee in the Sydney area, dedicating “countless hours” to the club and the sport.

READ MORE: Bondi Beach shooting: England cricket icon Michael Vaughan details terrifying experienceREAD MORE: Bondi Beach shooting: ‘Hugely respected’ retired police officer named as victim of horror attack

A former police officer, Meagher’s commitment to the club earned him the Volunteer of the Year award five years ago. His father, Ron, had also served as Randwick’s president.

In his retirement, Meagher had taken up amateur photography and was reportedly on assignment at Bondi when the shooting occurred. The news has left the rugby community reeling, as they mourn the loss of one of their own.

Local media have named the attackers as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24. Akram senior died at the scene, while his son is critically ill in hospital.

Randwick Rugby Club have expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of a club icon in a statement, saying: “‘Marzo’ as he was universally known, was a much-loved figure and absolute legend in our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby.

“For much of the last decade, Marzo has been our trusted First Grade Manager, and this news has already hit our players, coaches, managers, volunteers and supporters extremely hard. Prior to that, he was also a highly respected long-term referee who was well known and respected in Sydney Rugby circles.”

The club extended its “deepest condolences to his wife Virginia, his brothers Greg, David, Andrew and Paul, their extended families and mountain of friends across Randwick Rugby, NSW Police, Sydney Rugby Referees and our local community,” the statement continued. “We obviously extend our deepest sympathy to all the other victims, their families and loved ones, and those people traumatised by this barbaric act.

“We also sincerely thank and are in awe of all the first responders for their bravery and professionalism in dealing with such a dangerous and challenging situation to care for those in need. Rest in Peace ‘Marzo’ – we all love you and will miss you greatly. We are devastated.”

Alfie Orchard (C) and his partner, Amy Schanschieff, embrace while gathering to mourn the former’s rugby team manager, Peter Meagher, and the other victims of a mass shooting outside Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach(Image: Audrey Richardson, Getty Images)

Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and the NSW Waratahs also released a joint statement, honouring Meagher as a “beloved member” of his club. “Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and the Waratahs join Randwick and the entire rugby community in mourning Peter Meagher, who lost his life during Sunday’s Bondi terror attack,” the statement read.

“Peter was a beloved member of the Galloping Greens, dedicating countless hours as first grade team manager and a volunteer referee, and followed in the footsteps of his father Ron and grandfather Wally, a Wallabies Hall of Famer, in serving the club.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Peter’s family, friends and clubmates as well as all the victims of Sunday’s tragedy,” the statement continued.

“We also thank our first responders, emergency services and everyday citizens for their selfless heroism in the face of terror. Rest In Peace, Marzo.”

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the shooting that killed at least 15 people at a Jewish celebration an ‘act of evil’, and said the government is considering tougher gun laws.

Published On 15 Dec 202515 Dec 2025

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AFP via Getty Images

At least 15 civilians have been confirmed dead in Sunday’s shooting attack at Bondi beach.

Many were attending an event to mark the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

Authorities have confirmed that two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl were among the victims.

This is what we know about those identified so far:

Matilda, 10

Authorities confirmed that a 10-year-old girl, named by her family to local media as Matilda, was among the dead.

Irina Goodhew, who organised a fundraiser for the girl’s mother and said she was the child’s former teacher, wrote: “I knew her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her.’

The Harmony Russian School of Sydney also confirmed that she was one of its students.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news that a former student of our school has passed away in the hospital due to injuries sustained from a gunshot,” the school wrote on Facebook.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic event … Her memory will remain in our hearts, and we honor her life and the time she spent as part of our school family.”

Meanwhile her aunt spoke to ABC news and said that Matilda’s sister, who was with her when she was shot, was struggling to come to terms with the loss.

“They were like twins — they’ve never been separated,” she told the ABC.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Supplied

Eli Schlanger was known as the Bondi rabbi

Known as the “Bondi Rabbi”, Eli Schlanger, 41, was one of the key organisers of Sunday’s event. He was head of the local Chabad mission, an international Hasidic Jewish organisation based in Brooklyn.

The death of the British-born father of five was confirmed by his cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis.

“My dear cousin, Rabbi Eli Schlanger @bondirabbi was murdered in today’s terrorist attack in Sydney,” Zalman wrote on Instagram. “He leaves behind his wife & young children, as well as my uncle & aunt & siblings … He was truly an incredible guy”.

In a post on its website, Chabad said Schlanger’s youngest child was just two months old.

“He was the most godly, humane, kind, gracious human being I think I’ve ever met,” Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry, told reporters at Bondi on Monday morning.

Dan Elkayam

The death of French national Dan Elkayam was confirmed by Frances’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

“It’s with immense sadness that we have learnt that our compatriot Dan Elkayam was among the victims of the terrorist attack that hit Jewish families gathered on the beach at Bondi in Sydney,” he wrote on social media. “We mourn with his family and loved ones, with the Jewish community and the Australian people.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Elkayam worked as an IT analyst for NBCUniversal and had moved to Australia last year.

He was also a keen footballer, and “an integral member” of our premier league squad, the Rockdale Ilindin Football Club in west Sydney wrote on its Facebook page.

He was “an extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates. Our deepest and sincerest condolances to Dan’s family, friends and all that knew him. He will be missed,” the club wrote.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman was a holocaust survivor who came to Australia from Ukraine.

“I have no husband. I don’t know where is his body. Nobody can give me any answer,” his wife Larisa Kleytman told reporters outside a Sydney hospital late on Sunday.

“We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down. At this moment he was behind me and at one moment he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me,” she told the Australian.

Chabad wrote on X that Alexander “died shielding her from the gunman’s bullets. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two children and 11 grandchildren.”

The couple shared some of their life story with Jewish Care in 2023.

“As children, both Larisa and Alexander faced the unspeakable terror of the Holocaust,” the health organisation wrote in its annual report.

“Alex’s memories are particularly harrowing; recalling the dreadful conditions in Siberia where he, along with his mother and younger brother, struggled for survival.”

How Bondi Beach shooting unfolded minute by minute

Peter Meagher

Former police officer Peter Meagher was working as a freelance photographer at the Hanukkah event when he was killed, his rugby club confirmed.

“For him it was simply a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place and at the wrong time,” Mark Harrison, the general manager of Randwick Rugby Club, wrote on its website.

“‘Marzo, as he was universally known, was a much loved figure and absolute legend in our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby.”

The club said he had spent almost four decades in the NSW Police Force where he was “hugely respected by colleagues”.

“The tragic irony is that he spent so long in the dangerous front line as a Police Officer and was struck down in retirement while taking photos in his passion role is really hard to comprehend,” the club said.

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison migrated to Australia from the former Soviet Union in the 1970s as a teenager, according to an interview he gave to the ABC exactly a year ago.

“We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such anti-Semitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment,” he told the national broadcaster.

Confirming his death, Chabad said that he was a longtime resident of Melbourne, but that he “discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney”.

“A successful businessman whose main goal was to give away his earnings to charities dear to his heart, notably Chabad of Bondi,” the organisation wrote on X.

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan’s death was confirmed by Chabad, who described him as a “popular coordinator” of its activities in Sydney.

He also served as secretary of the Sydney Beth Din – a rabbinical court – and worked at the BINA Center, which describes itself as a centre of Jewish learning.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen was at the event with his wife and grandchildren when he was killed trying to shield a family friend, Chabad said.

The 78-year-old was a “beloved” member of the Bondi Chabad Synagogue, according to the organisation.

His granddaughter Leor Amzalak told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he was “the best you could ask for”.

She said Mr Weitzen had migrated to Australia from Israel in 1988.

“He only saw the best in people and will be dearly missed,” she told the broadcaster.

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Skip next section Ukraine ceasefire talks to continue in Berlin

12/15/2025December 15, 2025

Ukraine ceasefire talks to continue in Berlin

Merz spoke with advisers late into Sunday night following Zelenskyy’s meeting with WitkoffImage: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as several leaders of Ukraine’s allies in Berlin on Monday.

The latest set of talks comes after Zelenskyy on Sunday met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner at the German Chancellery.

Key points in all the talks remain potential territorial concessions on the part of Ukraine, especially in the eastern Donbas region, where Russian forces occupy a significant amount of territory, the future size of the Ukrainian military and how Kyiv’s allies can provide security guarantees to prevent another war.

Witkoff said “a lot of progress was made” during Sunday’s discussions. 

Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine would drop its bid to join the NATO military alliance if the US and other Western nations provided security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members.

But Ukraine continued to reject a US push for ceding territory to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the part of the Donetsk region still under its control among the key conditions for peace.

Zelenskyy has called for a ceasefire along the current frontlines.

Ukraine suffers blackouts after Russian attack

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Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/15/2025December 15, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning, and thanks for joining us here in Germany as talks in Berlin continue to search for the terms of a ceasefire that would put an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

Today, we’re expecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address allies in the German capital, attend a German-Ukrainian economic forum with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and have a private discussion with the German leader later this evening.

Talks are also continuing on how to use frozen Russian assets in Europe to fund Ukraine’s defense.

Stay with us as we track developments at the Berlin talks and from the conflict in Ukraine throughout the day.

Trump ‘frustrated’ about Ukraine and Russia

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Bondi Beach attack witness says he ‘stomped’ on shooter’s head

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Naveed Akram had previously been investigated over his links to a Sydney-based Islamic State terrorism cell, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed.

The 24-year-old had been investigated for six months in 2019, by ASIO, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, according to ABC.

Counter terrorism police believe Akram and his father, Sajid, had pledged allegiance to the terror group, according to the broadcaster. Two Isis flags were reportedly found in their car.

At least 15 people were killed in an antisemitic terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach by the pair believed to be a father and son, police have said.

Hundreds had gathered for an event called Chanukah by the Sea near Bondi Beach’s children’s park when the attack was launched on Sunday evening.

One gunman, aged 50, was shot by police and died at the scene, while a second attacker, a 24-year-old man, suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.

A ten-year-old girl who was taken to the Sydney Children’s Hospital after the attack is among those who have died. At least 40 people are receiving treatment in hospital, including three other children.

Officials said 14 people died at the scene with the child and a 40-year-old man later dying in hospital. The victims range from 10 years old to 87.

Read the statement from Albanese’s cabinet in full

The National Cabinet, chaired by PM Anthony Albanese, concluded with leaders agreeing that “strong, decisive and focused action was needed on gun law reform as an immediate action”.

They committed to strengthening gun laws nationwide, including renegotiating the National Firearms Agreement, accelerating the National Firearms Register, using criminal intelligence in licensing, limiting firearm ownership and certain types of guns, and requiring Australian citizenship for licences.

NSW premier Chris Minns and WA premier Roger Cook will oversee and coordinate this effort, while police ministers and attorneys-general from across jurisdictions will explore various options, including:

• Accelerating work on establishing the National Firearms Register;
• Allowing for additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licensing that can be used in administrative licensing regimes;
• Limiting the number of firearms to be held by any one individual;
• Limiting open-ended firearms licensing and the types of guns that are legal, including modifications; and
• A condition of a firearm licence is holding Australian citizenship.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns (R) lays flowers at a memorial in the wake of a mass shooting at Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on 15 December 2025 in Sydney, Australia (Getty Images)

In a separate statement, Albanese said: “As an immediate priority, the Australian Government will commence work on potential further Customs restrictions of firearms and other weapon-type importations, including 3D printing, novel technology and firearms equipment that can hold large amounts of ammunition.”

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 09:00

Netanyahu says Australian government ‘let disease’ of antisemitism spread before Bondi Beach attack

Netanyahu slams Australian PM over Bondi Beach shooting

Benjamin Netanyahu said he sent Anthony Albanese a letter warning that the “Australian government’s policy was promoting and encouraging antisemitism” in the country four months before the Bondi Beach attack. At least 15 people were killed in an antisemitic terrorist attack after two gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the start of Hanukkah. Hundreds had gathered for an event called Chanukah by the Sea near a children’s park when the attack was launched on Sunday evening (14 December). The Israeli prime minister accused the Australian government of doing “nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia.” “You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country,” Mr Netanyahu added.

Maira Butt15 December 2025 08:48

Everything we know about the shooters

Australian authorities say the Bondi Beach attack was carried out by a father and son from south-west Sydney, identified as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram.

Fifteen people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed in the attack.

Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene, while his son Naveed survived and remains in hospital under police guard.

Police have said that Sajid Akram’s death is not included in the victim toll, and that all 15 victims were killed by the attackers.

Investigators have confirmed there was no third suspect.

Authorities say Sajid Akram had held a firearms licence for about a decade and was legally in possession of six guns.

The prime minister has described the shooting as an act of terror and antisemitism, and a national cabinet meeting has been convened to consider tougher gun laws in response.

ABC News reports that Naveed Akram was examined by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, in 2019 over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State-linked cell.

People gather in front of a flower tribute near Bondi Pavilion following a shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia (REUTERS)

Home affairs minister Tony Burke said the son is an Australian-born citizen, while the father arrived in 1998 on a student visa, later transferring to a partner visa in 2001 and subsequently holding resident return visas.

Investigations into the motive for the attack and how the weapons were obtained are ongoing.

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 08:40

Gunman had previously been investigated for links to Islamic State

Naveed Akram had previously been investigated over his links to a Sydney-based Islamic State terrorism cell, according to ABC.

The broadcaster reported that counter terrorism police believe Akram and his father, Sajid, had pledged allegiance to the terror group.

Two Isis flags were reportedly found in their car.

Maira Butt15 December 2025 08:31

Hanukkah events cancelled across Sydney

Daniel Aghion, the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told NewsRadio that Hanukkah events planned in Sydney have been cancelled, but added that some will still go ahead in other places, including Melbourne.

He said that one of his close friends and staff members was injured in yesterday’s terrorist attack.

People embrace at a flower memorial placed outside Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

“He’s okay, and we’re very thankful for that. But, you know, my heart goes out to the entire community. We all know people that have been affected by this.”

“What the prime minister said last night and this morning, he did engage in some very strong words and he did show effective leadership. The question really is: could that language and that strength have been shown much earlier?”

Mr Aghion said “this tragedy will reach deeply into the community”.

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 08:20

The Bondi Beach victims who have been publicly identified so far

Fifteen people were killed in the Bondi Beach shooting, with victims aged between 10 and 87, according to police.

Many were members of Sydney’s Jewish community attending a Hanukkah event by the sea.

Among the dead was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, who helped organise the event and served as an assistant rabbi with Chabad, the Jewish organisation that hosted the gathering.

Chabad also confirmed the deaths of Reuven Morrison, a member of the community, and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, the secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, a Jewish religious institution.

Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman was also killed in the attack. Chabad said he had attended the event with his children and grandchildren.

French national Dan Elkayam was among the victims as well, with France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirming his death and offering condolences to his family, the Jewish community and Australians.

The youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl identified by local media only as Matilda, after her family asked for her surname to be withheld.

A couple embrace a day after a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

In a fundraiser set up in her memory, her teacher described her as a “bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her”.

Another victim was Peter Meagher, a former police officer and local rugby club volunteer, who was working as a freelance photographer at the Hanukkah event, according to Randwick Rugby Club.

Another victim was a man named Tibor Weitzen and a woman named Marika Pogany, ABC reported.

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 08:00

Australian cabinet vows united push against antisemitism and terrorism

Anthony Albanese’s cabinet has pledged a united push to eradicate antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism, stressing coordinated national action to counter extremism and protect community safety.

The statement said: “National Cabinet noted the ongoing work across jurisdictions to tackle antisemitism such as establishing the National Hate Crimes and Incidents Database, enhancing security of Jewish community and cultural sites, and coordinated work across intelligence and police agencies.”

In his opening remarks, the prime minister said: “The antisemitic terrorism incident in Bondi, I think, has shaken the whole nation, not just people in Sydney and New South Wales, in particular, members of the Jewish community have been devastated by what is an unprecedented scale of attack on the Australian way of life.”

He added: “I met with the Premier of New South Wales, and we made a declaration after being briefed by the New South Wales Police Commissioner who has joined us here today. And we also had a visit down to Bondi. There is quite horrific scenes there, and people are really hurting. What they’re looking for is confidence going forward.

“And today’s meeting is about making sure that we have states and territories aligned here, making sure we send a message as well to Jewish Australians that we stand together against antisemitism, giving a message to all Australians that we stand against terrorism and that we will do whatever it is that we can, if laws need to be adjusted, to make changes.

(via REUTERS)

“One of the suggestions that will be on the agenda today is to have an examination of our gun laws to make sure that if there is any tightening or changes which are required, that we put in place mechanisms.

“Through this National Cabinet we, of course, have established the National Firearms Register. That is a significant step forward, and I know that work is progressing on that, but we need to, I think, accelerate the work in that area.”

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 07:40

Palestine Advocacy Network says Bondi Beach attackers do not represent their movement

In a statement, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network said it “unequivocally condemn(s) the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

The organisation said that the “perpetrators of this horrendous attack do not represent our movement or the values we uphold”.

The statement said: “Week after week, we have gathered together – the best of our community, from First Nations leaders, members of the Jewish community, side by side with Palestinian siblings, and the wider Arab community, among many other allies from all walks of life. Together, we have insisted on a world that is free from racism and hate. And we will continue to insist that antisemitism, like all forms of racism and hate, has no place in our society.

“In the midst of this tragedy, we saw an extraordinary act of courage – Ahmed al Ahmed’s heroic intervention in disarming the gunman and saving many lives. His bravery calls on all of us to respond in kind, by standing against hatred and refusing to demonise or vilify Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities. We can only counter violence and fear by coming together at every opportunity.”

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 07:20

Australian foreign minister briefs US counterpart on Bondi Beach terror attack

Foreign minister Penny Wong briefed US secretary of state Marco Rubio on the Bondi Beach terror attack, thanking him for his condolences and solidarity with Australia and the Jewish community.

Wong said: “There is no place for this antisemitism, violence and terrorism in our nation – we are determined to eradicate it.”

A US spokesperson added that America stands “in solidarity with the Jewish community and with the Australian people”.

People embrace after laying flowers at a memorial outside Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday (AP)

“No community should have to fear publicly celebrating their faith and traditions due to the threat of extremist violence and terror,” principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

“There can be no compromise with antisemitism – this scourge must be confronted and defeated.”

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 07:00

Obama and Biden condemn Bondi Beach attack

Former US leaders Barack Obama and Joe Biden expressed condolences following the Bondi Beach attack.

Obama said he was “praying for the families mourning a loved one after the horrific terrorist attack against Jewish people”, while Biden described the attack as “shocking and unconscionable”.

Biden added: “We must unite against violence and antisemitism, and give hate no safe harbor anywhere in the world.”

He wrote on X: “For Jewish people lighting a menorah tonight: I know that it is hard to find hope while carrying sorrow.

“But your resilience and capacity to find faith and joy despite centuries of persecution and pain has always been your light.

“We must never lose hope.”

Maroosha Muzaffar15 December 2025 06:40

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NEED TO KNOW

• The man taken into custody on Sunday in relation to the mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday that killed two and injured nine has been released by police
• Officials said that person is no longer a person of interest. Authorities are still looking for the man dressed in black seen in a video released late Saturday night
• The man who entered a classroom on the school’s Providence campus Dec. 13 and opened fire on a classroom with approximately 60 students is still at large

A man initially identified as a “person of interest” in the Saturday, Dec. 13, mass shooting at Brown University has been released from custody — and the real shooter is still on the run.

Col. Oscar Perez of the Providence Police Department said at a press conference on Sunday evening that an individual taken into custody early Sunday and initially identified as a person of interest had been released after authorities said they did not find enough evidence to charge him with a crime.

Authorities say he is no longer a person of interest in the case.

Investigators are now once again searching for the person who was seen dressed in all black and scurrying down a street in the Rhode Island capital around the time of the shooting in video released to the public on Saturday night.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha declined to comment when asked about the decision to release the person taken into custody, and Mayor Brett Smiley said that there was no reason for members of the public to fear for their safety.

When asked why authorities were still unable to locate any other persons of interest in the shooting 36 hours after the attack, Neronha said there were not many video cameras located in the building where the shooting took place.

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He also said that all video footage from the school’s campus had been reviewed at this time and that none of those videos captured the killer’s face.

“If we had that video, you’d have it. If we could show you a face and say this is our person of interest or suspect, you’d have it,” Neronha said.

The shooting occurred at around 4 p.m. on Saturday when a masked man armed with a rifle entered a building on the Brown University campus and opened fire in the hallway.

He then entered a classroom where approximately 60 students were preparing to leave after attending a two-hour study session for an upcoming economics exam.

A number of individuals who were in that classroom told authorities that the gunman shouted an unintelligible statement and then began shooting students.

In the end, two students were killed and nine injured. One of the injured students is still in critical condition.

Brown University announced on Sunday that all exams had been canceled for the rest of the semester and urged students who were still on campus to travel home for winter break.

“For the moment, we encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being,” Prvost Francis J. Doyle III said in a letter to students.

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At least 16 people, including children, have died in the anti-Semitic Bondi Beach terror attack with dozens more being injured as families gathered to celebrate the festive season

The gunmen opened fire during a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach

The alleged father-son shooters at Bondi Beach are said to be behind the killing of 16 people and left dozens more injured in one of Australia’s deadliest attacks.

Naveed Akram, 24, was arrested at the famous beach in Sydney, New South Wales, before being taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for his critical injuries. His father, Sajid, 50, was fatally shot amid the chaos on Sunday.

The anti-Semitic terror attack took place as Jews gathered near the beach to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah. Naveed was reportedly known to New South Wales and Sajid is said to have six firearms legally registered to him.

The Bondi Beach terror attack is one of the deadliest shootings in Australian historyREAD MORE: Heartbreaking comment Bondi Beach hero made before approaching gunmanREAD MORE: Bondi Beach shooting: Police issue major condition update on alleged shooter

Here is everything we know about the Bondi Beach terror attack suspects.

Naveed Akram

The shooters killed at least 16 and injured dozens

Bricklayer Naveed is alleged to have opened fire on hundreds of beachgoers celebrating Hanukkah on Sunday. According to ABC, he is said to have been previously investigated over alleged support for Islamic State.

Authorities are investigating whether he pledged allegiance to the terrorist group and he was also investigated by Australia’s spy agency for six months in 2019, reports the Telegraph.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “[Naveed Akram] was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”

Naveed was said to be an Australian-born citizen and had enjoyed boxing. He reportedly told his employer he would not be able to return to work until next year, due to breaking his wrist while boxing.

The alleged shooter’s Islamic teacher publicly condemned the attack. Sheikh Adam Ismail, from Sydney, was previously photographed handing Naveed with a certificate that showed he had mastered the Quran.

He is alleged to have been one of the gunmen dressed in black and handling numerous firearms. Naveed Akram is currently in hospital after being critically injured during the attack.

Sajid Akram

Police arrested one of the shooters, alleged to be Naveed Akram(Image: @ConservativeeAu/X)

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during the terror attack. He had six firearms legally registered to him and is believed to have used a rifle and shotgun that were retrieved by the scene.

Police said Sajid had a Category AB firearm licence. The licence requires a person to show they have a “special need” to own certain weapons.

Sajid Akram is said to have arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998. He then transferred it to a partner visa and has been on resident return visas ever since.

The family lived in a Sydney suburb with a neighbour expressing how she was shocked to find out she was living next to killer Sajid.

Lemanatua Fatu told the Daily Mail: “We saw lots of police cars arriving in the street and especially in that house. We couldn’t sleep, watching everything – it was so scary.”

Victims

Arsen Ostrovsky was injured in the attack(Image: Sky News)

At least 16 people were brutally shot dead and some 40 others were wounded when the gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach. There are victims who have not been named but police have said they believe they all range from 10 to 87 years old.

Family confirmed 10-year-old Matilda was among the dead, making her the youngest victim. Irina Goodhew, who organised a fundraiser for her family, praised her in a post, adding: “I knew her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her.”

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, had been an organiser of the Hanukkah event on Sunday. The British-born dad-of-five was praised by family as an “incredible guy.”

France’s Foreign Minister confirmed Dan Elkayam as another one of the victims. He is understood to have worked for NBCUniversal and moved to Australia last year.

Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman, originally from Ukraine, leaves behind his wife, two children and 11 grandchildren.

Peter Meagher, a freelance photographer, was confirmed by his rugby club to be among the dead. Businessman Reuven Morrison had previously lived in Melbourne but was said to have “discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney,” reports the BBC.

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan was praised as a “popular coordinator” who also worked at a Jewish learning centre.

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Australia’s PM said gun laws would be discussed by the national cabinet today after deadly shooting in Sydney.

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At least 16 people were killed and more than 40 wounded when gunmen fired on a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi beach, which Australian police and officials are describing as a terrorist attack.

In the latest update on Monday morning, New South Wales premier Chris Minns, has confirmed 16 people, including one of the alleged gunmen, have died, and 42 people injured in the shooting were taken to hospital.

Those who died are yet to be formally identified but police believe their ages range between 10 and 87 years old, he said.

Here are the victims who have been named so far.

Matilda

Matilda is the youngest victim of the Bondi beach shooting. Photograph: Supplied by family

The 10-year-old girl killed in the attack has been identified as Matilda. Her aunt, Lina, gave permission for Guardian Australia to publish her first name and photos approved by her mother.

“A great tragedy has happened to my family,” she wrote on social media. “My beloved niece Matilda was killed during a terrorist attack in Bondi beach. I don’t know how we survive such grief.”

Matilda was taken to Sydney children’s hospital on Sunday night, where she later died.

She was a former student of the Harmony Russian school of Sydney, which said it was “deeply saddened to learn of her passing”.

“Her memory will remain in our hearts, and we honor her life and the time she spent as part of our school family,” the school said in a statement posted to social media.

Her language teacher, Irina Goodhew, described her as a “bright, joyful and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her”.

Peter Meagher

Photographer Peter Meagher. Photograph: Facebook

Peter Meagher, also known as Marzo, died at Bondi on Sunday. He was a longtime volunteer at Randwick rugby club and they confirmed his death in a statement on Monday.

The statement said Meagher was working as freelance photographer at the Chanukah By the Sea event, and described his death as “simply a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place and at the wrong time”.

It said Meagher was “much loved figure and absolute legend in our club” and “one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby”. He had served as first grade manager of the club for most of the last decade and was previously a highly respected referee.

“In his professional life, Peter served for almost four decades in the NSW Police Force and retired as a Detective Sergeant, where he was hugely respected by his Police colleagues,” the statement read.

The club said that Meagher was a “much-loved figure” and that training sessions wouldn’t feel the same without him.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen’s grandson, Mendy Amzalak, told the Australian his grandfather was a “man full of life, joy, smiles and laughter”, who died shielding a family friend from the bullets.

Amzalak said he was one of the first responders at the scene when he came across his grandfather’s body. “My family were there for the event and my wife called me so I ran down to the beach with my defibrillator and the shooting was still going. I started treating people and then I came across his body,” he told the Australian.

His granddaughter, Leor Amzalak, confirmed Weitzen’s death to Guardian Australia.

Eli Schlanger

Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Photograph: Instagram

London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was the first victim to be named.

Jewish News reported that the father of five, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and his family members attend Kinloss synagogue in Finchley. His first cousin, Brighton-based Rabbi Zalman Lewis, described Schlanger as “vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very warm outgoing person who loved to help people”.

He told Jewish News: “How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?

“We can only respond by doing what Eli would have wanted, what he dedicated his life to – doing more mitzvot [good deeds] and to keep spreading positive energy.”

Schlanger and his wife, Chayala, celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, in October.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which represents the Australian Jewish community, told the ABC Schlanger was “a person who personified goodness and godliness and holiness, a person who lived literally for no reason other than to do good deeds”.

“I was praying, please don’t let it be him. I don’t know what we’ll do as a community without him,” Ryvchin said.

Rabbi Yossi Friedman said Schlanger was a “wonderful community man”, who was “just full of light”.

“He was just so positive and so obsessed with life and just bringing joy to everyone,” Friedman said.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman. Photograph: Jewish Care annual report

Alexander Kleytman was also among those killed, his wife, Larisa Kleytman, told reporters outside St Vincent’s hospital.

“We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down. At this moment he was behind me and at one moment he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me,” she told the Australian.

The couple were both Holocaust survivors, and had recounted their experiences to JewishCare in 2023.

“As children, both Larisa and Alexander faced the unspeakable terror of the Holocaust. Alex’s memories are particularly harrowing; the dreadful conditions in Siberia where he, along with his mother and younger brother, struggled for survival,” the Australian Jewish health provider’s 2022-23 annual report reads.

“The scars of the past, however, did not deter them from seeking a brighter future. They later made the move to Australia, immigrating from Ukraine.”

Dan Elkayam

Dan Elkayam. Photograph: Instagram

The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has confirmed French man Dan Elkayam is among the dead. In a translated post from X, Barrot said France mourned with his family and loved ones, with the Jewish community and the Australian people.

“This low act is a new, tragic manifestation of a revolting outpouring of antisemitic hatred that we must put a stop to,” he wrote.

“France will spare no effort to eradicate antisemitism wherever it is emerges, and to combat antisemitism in all its forms. The lights of Hanukah must not be extinguished and they will not be.”

The president, Emmanuel Macron, said his thoughts were with Elkayam’s family and their loved ones and expressed to them “the fullest solidarity of the nation”.

Elkayam was a soccer fan and played the 2025 season with the Rockdale Ilinden football club premier league squad, who described him as an “an extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates”.

He was due to join Arncliffe Aurora football club, in southern Sydney, for their premier league squad for the 2026 season.

“Dan was a valued and deeply respected member of our football community. Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all those who loved him during this unimaginably difficult time,” the club wrote on Instagram. “Dan will always remain part of our club.”

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison. Photograph: anash.org

Also known as Rueben, Morrison emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Australia in the 1970s. Chabad.org reported he divided his time between Sydney and Melbourne, and was a “successful businessman whose main goal was to give away his earnings to charities dear to his heart”.

In a 2024 interview with the ABC, Morrison said he had experienced persecution as a Jewish person in the Soviet Union but didn’t expect it to be happening in Australia.

“We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such anti-Semitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment,” he said.

Yaakov Levitan

Yaakov Levitan, secretary of the Jewish institution, the Sydney Beth Din, was killed in the attack.

His death was confirmed to Guardian Australia by Sydney Beth Din senior member, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.

One Israeli citizen

An Israeli citizen was among those killed during the attack, according to multiple reports citing the Israeli foreign ministry.

Thirty-eight injured, 27 still in hospital

Forty-two were transported to nearby hospitals and 27 remain – with five in critical conditions with the others remaining in serious and stable conditions. Two are police officers who attended the scene, who police said are in critical but stable conditions.

One of the injured is a man who rushed to the scene to tackle one of the gunmen, who has been hailed a local hero. He has two bullet wounds, one in his arm and one in his hand, but is recovering well in hospital, his relative said. Seven News reported that the bystander was a 43-year-old fruit shop owner from the Sutherland Shire.

Arsen Ostrovsky

One of the injured to be identified is the head of the Sydney office of a public affairs organisation for the Australian Jewish community. Arsen Ostrovsky, head of the Australia Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Sydney office and an international human rights lawyer, was named by the Jerusalem Post, where he is a longtime contributor, as among those wounded. The Jerusalem Post reported Ostrovsky was receiving treatment and has been in contact with people via WhatsApp.

An image has been released of Ostrovsky lying on the floor with blood dripping down his face.

“[I’m] in [the] hospital recovering now,” Ostrovsky wrote to the Jerusalem Post. “Bullet grazed head. Lot of bleeding. Doctors said miracle survived, was that close. Have been stitched up now. Worst thing was being apart from my wife + kids at that instance. I got hit when I went towards them. Thankfully they got out OK. It was absolute bloodbath, children and elderly everywhere. Felt like scene from Nova. But also incredible seeing how everyone rushed to help. Surreal.”

Evan Zlatkis

Executive Council of Australian Jewry director of media, Evan Zlatkis, was also injured in the attack, telling the Daily Telegraph he heard “dozens and dozens” of gunshots. As he fled, he said he felt he was bleeding.

“I thought it was rubber bullets, but it’s gone into my own skin and into my leg,” he said. “I’ve been shot myself. They bandaged me up. I’m ok.”

In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and Griefline on 1300 845 745. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

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