The first victims of the Bondi Beach massacre have been named as a ‘dedicated’ British-born rabbi and a Holocaust survivor who saved his wife’s life during the terror attack.
At least 16 people have been confirmed dead after two gunmen opened fire on Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a family Hanukkah event.
Around 40 beachgoers have been taken to hospital with injuries, including a ten-year-old understood to be fighting for her life at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
One of the shooters was shot dead at the scene, while another was arrested by police officers.
‘Joyous’ rabbi who brought ‘love and happiness’
One of the innocent worshippers gunned down on Bondi Beach is reportedly Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a key organiser of the Hanukkah by the Sea event.
Rabbi Schlanger, who grew up in Temple Fortune in North London, welcomed their youngest child, a boby boy, just two months ago.
He was described as a ‘very dedicated religious leader’ by Rabbi Benjamin Elton, Chief Minister of Sydney’s Great Synagogue.
Rabbi Elton continued: ‘My children go to school with members of his family. Just a very hard-working, dedicated, committed rabbi and family man.’
An attendee at the event, Micaela Ezra, told Metro: ‘I am beyond heartbroken as Rabbi Eli was the most wonderful and joyous person we knew.
‘He went out of his way to uplift and bring love and happiness to everyone.
‘After more than a decade of hard work he built up a beautiful synagogue in Bondi and everyone who knew him thought he was just amazing.
‘It is sickening that his light has been put out in such horrific circumstances.’
Rabbi Schlanger’s great-uncle, the late Reverend Leslie Olsberg, served as rabbi at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, where two congregants were killed in a terror attack in October.
The Rabbi’s first cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, told Jewish News: ‘It makes no sense at all.
‘How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?
‘We can only respond by doing what Eli would have wanted, what he dedicated his life to – doing more mitzvot (good deeds) and to keep spreading positive energy. To keep generating light.’
Husband shot dead protecting his wife
Another victim in the massacre was a grandfather who was shot as he shielded his wife during the attack.
Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor with two children and 11 grandchildren, was with his wife Larisa when the terror attack unfolded.
Larisa said: ‘I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head.’
She told The Australian: ‘He came on Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah, for us it was always a very, very good celebration, for many, many years.
‘Today in the middle of the celebrations (there were) shots and unfortunately my husband was killed.
‘We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down. At this moment he was behind me and at one moment he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.
‘His body is still there and I am sitting there and don’t know what I have to do.’
Both Alex and Larisa survived the Holocaust as children, with Alex surviving ‘dreadful conditions’ in Siberia.
The pair moved to Australia from Ukraine and were married for 57 years.
‘Act of evil, antisemitism, terror’
The French foreign minister named compatriot Dan Elkayam as another victim of the Bondi Beach attack.
‘We mourn with his family and loved ones, with the Jewish community and the bereaved Australian people,’ Jean-Noël Barrot said on X.
Beachgoer Reuven Morrison, a member of the Chabad community, has also been identified as a victim of the attack, according to Chabad.org.
Naveed Akram, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west, was named as one of the suspected gunmen, a law enforcement source confirmed to ABC News.
Two individuals armed with guns opened fire on a crowd in the Archer Park area of Bondi Beach at 6.47pm local time on Sunday, New South Wales Police said.
Some witnesses reported more than 30 shots.
The attack has been declared a terrorist incident targeting a Hanukkah celebration at a park next to the beach on the first day of the Jewish festival of lights, the force confirmed.
In a heroic act, a bystander was filmed wrestling a firearm from a man.
A clip showed the moment a civilian took matters into his own hands and lunged at the attacker, seizing his weapon and pointing it back at him.
Timeline of Bondi Beach attack
5pm (6am GMT): Community members gather for a family Chanukah event to mark the first night of the holiday on Bondi Beach
6.47pm (7.47am GMT): Police receive reports of gunshots fired at the popular coastal spot
9.36pm (10.36am GMT): New South Wales police commissioner declares a terrorist incident
Australian PM Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as ‘an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism’.
He said: ‘There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.
‘Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith at this dark moment for our nation.
‘Our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage.’
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the scenes were ‘deeply shocking and distressing’ and urged Britons in Sydney to follow the advice of local authorities.
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