Silence marks moment of sorrow as Australians mourn victims of Bondi terror attack

Survivors join families of victims on stage of Sydney Opera House as PM apologises that nation ‘could not protect your loved ones’

• Children cook meals for the needy and mourners lay wreaths for Bondi attack victims on national day of mourning

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At 7.01pm on Thursday evening, a crowd of 1,500 mourners packed into the Sydney Opera House descended into a heavy silence. Television stations paused their coverage. Gatherings fell still.

Six weeks after 15 people were gunned down celebrating the first night of Hanukah in Bondi, in the worst terror attack on Australian soil, the nation was still coming to terms with the weight of its loss.