Australia detains seven men in anti-terror raids as Bondi Beach victim laid to rest

Seven men were detained by Australian anti-terror police in Sydney on Thursday as the country laid to rest the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach attack. New South Wales police said an operation at George Street, Liverpool, in Sydney’s southwest had concluded, with officers intercepting two cars as part of the investigation. Seven men are assisting police with inquiries, the department added.

Authorities stressed there are no known connections between the Bondi Beach assault and the raids in Sydney's southwest. Some reports had suggested the detainees might have been headed toward Bondi, but officials did not confirm any link to the Hanukkah weekend attack that left 15 people dead.

The timing of the raids coincided with the funeral for 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach massacre. Matilda’s family requested that her last name not be released. Her funeral in Sydney drew family members, friends and mourners paying respects. Irina Goodhew, Matilda’s teacher at La Perouse Public School, said the child was a “bright and loving soul” whose memory would remind others to “carry kindness in our hearts.” Her classmates at La Perouse Public School also gave Matilda an Indigenous nickname, “wuri wuri,” meaning “the little ray of sunshine.”

Matilda’s parents, Valentyna and Michael, immigrated to Australia from Ukraine. Michael told The Guardian that he chose his daughter’s name to honor their new home, saying, “Matilda was our firstborn in Australia. I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist.” The family has asked that Matilda’s surname remain confidential.

In the broader context of the Bondi Beach tragedy, police identified a suspect list and described a complex attack carried out during a Hanukkah celebration. Investigators say a father-son duo carried out the shooting; the father died at the scene while the son sustained critical injuries and is hospitalized. The younger suspect faces a litany of charges, including 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempt to murder or cause grievous bodily harm, with additional allegations such as attempting to commit a terrorist act, discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, displaying prohibited terrorist organization symbols, and placing an explosive near a building with intent to cause harm.

The confirmed victims identified so far include Matilda and several adults whose lives were cut short. Among the named victims are Schlanger, Peter Meagher, Tibor Weitzen, Alex Kleytman, Dan Elkayam, Marika Pogany, Reuven Morrison and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan. Police and officials have urged the public to remain cautious and patient as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that unfolded at Bondi Beach.

In the wake of the attack, Australian authorities have signaled that gun-control measures and other security policies are likely to be revisited in the coming weeks. The government has indicated that gun-law reforms could be pursued as part of broader counterterrorism and public-safety initiatives, though specifics were not announced in detail.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as officials release additional information about the raids, the Bondi Beach investigation, and potential policy responses.