Police have launched an investigation after a 90-year-old survivor of last December's Bondi terror attack died, with officers determining whether she should be considered the attack's 16th victim.
Eva Geller, a great-grandmother who survived the Holocaust, was shot during the attack in Sydney, Australia, on December 14. She survived the initial incident but had been in and out of hospital for treatment stemming from shrapnel wounds, News24 reports.
Attack and injuries
Fifteen people were killed when father-and-son gunmen allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration near Bondi beach. Eva was injured in the chaos. The 90-year-old Holocaust survivor passed away on Thursday evening (November 5), her Rabbi said on Friday.
Mr Aron Moss, from Nefesh Synagogue, said: "Ever since being shot at the Bondi attack she'd been in and out of hospital, always wanting to come home. She was told she will never walk again but miraculously, and with incredible determination, she did walk again. She passed away late last night."
Background and legal proceedings
Ms Geller, who moved to Australia after surviving the horrors of Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War, was at the scene of the reported antisemitic terror attack last year. Father and son gunmen Naveed Akram and Sajid Akram allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park near the iconic beach.
They killed 15 people at the scene. While Sajid was shot dead by police, legal proceedings are ongoing against Naveed. Police are now determining if Ms Geller should be considered the 16th victim of the massacre.
Police statement
New South Wales Police said in a statement: "NSW Police are aware that a 90-year-old woman – who was injured in the Bondi terror attack – has died overnight at a hospital in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs."
"NSW Police are now awaiting further advice and are working with the office of the coroner."
