Bondi Beach attack kills at least 15 in Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades

Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, in what Australian officials described as the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. Police said the attack is being treated as a terror incident, and investigators continued to piece together the sequence of events as thousands gathered at the scene to mourn and pay tribute to those affected. The incident disrupted a holiday gathering that drew families and community members to the popular Sydney beach and its surroundings.

The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence. The youngest identified victim was 10-year-old Matilda Britvan, who was at Bondi Beach with her parents, sister and friends for the first night of Hanukkah. She was wounded in the gunfire and later died in hospital. Matilda’s language teacher described her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an organizer of the event and assistant rabbi at the Chabad of Bondi, was also killed. Schlanger served as a chaplain to NSW Corrective Services and NSW Prisoners of War, and he ministered at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.

Among those identified as victims in official and community disclosures were Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, who died protecting his wife from gunfire; Kleytman, 87, had two children and 11 grandchildren. He and his wife had migrated from Ukraine nearly six decades ago. Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, was also killed and was described by the Chabad as deeply involved in Sydney’s Jewish community. Boris and Sofia Gurman were hailed by their families as heroes after dashcam footage appeared to show Boris attempting to disarm one of the shooters while Sofia stood by; both were killed in the attack. Gurman was 69 and a retired mechanic, Sofia 61 and an Australia Post employee.

Other confirmed victims included Dan Elkayam, a French national who had relocated to Australia and worked for NBC Universal in Sydney; Reuven Morrison, a Melbourne-based businessman who identified as Jewish through his family; Peter Meagher, a former New South Wales detective who served nearly 40 years in the police force; Tibor Weitzen, a 78-year-old Bondi resident who belonged to the area’s Jewish community; Marika Pogány, an 82-year-old Slovak citizen with ties to the region; and Edith Brutman, vice-president of the New South Wales chapter of the international Jewish group B’nai B’rith. In each case, families and community leaders described the victims as people who contributed to their communities and who were loved by those around them.

The attack prompted an immediate security response from law enforcement and a broader conversation about safety and antisemitism in Australia. NSW Police identified the siege as an ongoing investigation at the time of reporting, with authorities thanking the public for their cooperation and urging anyone with information to come forward. Officials emphasized that the incident is part of a long-running fight against terrorism and hate, calling on communities to stand together in the face of such violence.

Tributes flowed from across Australia and around the world as the Jewish community and others mourned. Community leaders and friends described the victims as devoted family people and pillars of their neighborhoods, highlighting the sudden loss of parents, grandparents, teachers, and volunteers who dedicated themselves to helping others. Officials encouraged restraint in speculation about motives and noted that investigators would release additional details as they become available.

Authorities have not yet released final casualty tallies or publicly named every victim, and many families have held back from speaking publicly while arrangements are made and next-of-kin notifications occur. The broader investigation will continue to assess potential links to extremist ideologies and ensure the safety of communities nationwide. In the meantime, survivors and families affected by the Bondi Beach attack are contending with an unimaginable loss while awaiting answers that may help prevent a recurrence of such violence.