At least 16 people, including one of the alleged gunmen, died in a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday in what police have described as an antisemitic attack. The victims, aged between 10 and 87, were attending a Hanukkah celebration when the attack began. It is the worst mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Among the deceased is 10-year-old Matilda, who was taken to Sydney Children's Hospital where she later died. Her aunt Lina described the tragedy on social media, saying: 'I don't know how we survive such grief.' Matilda's former school, the Harmony Russian School of Sydney, paid tribute to her as a 'bright, joyful and spirited child.'
London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was also killed. The father of five, who served as assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London. His cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, described him as 'vivacious, energetic, full of life.' Schlanger and his wife had celebrated the birth of their youngest son in October.
Holocaust survivor Tibor Weitzen, 87, died shielding a family friend from bullets. His grandson Mendy Amzalak, a first responder, discovered his grandfather's body at the scene. Peter Meagher, a retired police detective and volunteer photographer, was also among the victims. He was described by Randwick Rugby Club as a 'much-loved figure and absolute legend.'
Dozens more were wounded, with 20 people, including two police officers, remaining in hospital as of Wednesday. The New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed the age range of the deceased. Formal identification of all victims is ongoing.
