“Ten-Year-Old Matilda Among 16 Dead After Father-Son Gunmen Open Fire on Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration”

Sydney, Australia — The sunny sands of Bondi Beach turned into a scene of unspeakable horror on Sunday evening as two gunmen opened fire on the “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration, killing 16 people — including 10-year-old Matilda — and injuring dozens more in what authorities are calling an antisemitic terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish community during the first night of Hanukkah.

Around 6:47 p.m. local time on December 14, crowds gathered near Archer Park for the annual festival — a peaceful event filled with light, music, children’s activities and the first candle lighting of the Jewish Festival of Lights. In a sudden burst of violence, two men dressed in black began firing long guns from an elevated footbridge overlooking the crowd. Witnesses described panic and chaos as people screamed and scrambled for cover along the beach and into nearby streets.

Police and emergency services responded swiftly. One of the suspected shooters, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by officers at the scene. His 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, critically injured, was taken to hospital under heavy guard and is expected to survive, authorities said. Investigators found Islamic State-style flags and improvised explosive devices in their vehicle, pointing to ideological motivations linked to extremist propaganda.

The confirmed victims paint a heartbreaking portrait of lives cut short. Matilda, a bright and joyful 10-year-old, was among those killed. Survivors and community members also mourned the loss of local leaders and cherished figures: Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a devoted rabbi and family man; Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin, a respected educator; 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, who died shielding his wife; Dan Elkayam, a young immigrant and traveler; and others remembered for their courage, generosity and community spirit. The ages of the deceased ranged from 10 to 87 years old, underscoring the indiscriminate cruelty of the violence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as an act of terror driven by “evil antisemitism”, vowing that Australia would tighten gun laws and strengthen anti-extremism efforts in response. Law enforcement has stressed that, while the Akram men appear to have acted alone — with no confirmed ties to a broader terror cell — their actions were clearly motivated by extremist ideology.

In the aftermath, Sydney has been plunged into mourning. Large crowds have gathered at memorials and vigils, and thousands have volunteered to donate blood for the injured. Community leaders, survivors and strangers alike have shared stories of bravery — including bystanders who tackled one of the gunmen, likely preventing even greater loss of life — and have honored the victims by lighting Hanukkah candles in their memory amid profound grief and solidarity.