SYDNEY — What was meant to be a night of light, community and joy on the first evening of Hanukkah “Chanukah by the Sea” turned into a scene of unimaginable horror Sunday as gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens more wounded in what authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist attack. Among the victims was 10-year-old Matilda Poltavchenko, whose bright presence and contagious laughter will now forever be tied to this tragedy.
The calm early evening along Campbell Parade, where hundreds had gathered near the Bondi Park Playground to celebrate the Jewish festival of lights, fractured at approximately 6:47 p.m. local time. Witnesses heard a volley of shots that sent beachgoers fleeing in panic, many with children in their arms, as the two masked men opened fire from a nearby footbridge. Footage circulating online shows chaos amid screams, families scattered across the sand, and heroic bystanders rushing to help others escape danger.
Police say the attackers, later identified as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son, unleashed bullets into the crowded celebration before officers engaged and ended the assault. One of the gunmen was killed at the scene by police; the second was critically wounded and taken into custody. Authorities are still probing whether others may have been involved.
The death toll, initially reported at 12, has since risen as more victims were pronounced dead in hospitals. Among those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi with Chabad of Bondi and one of the event’s key organizers. A Holocaust survivor and community elder was also named among the dead. At least 42 people were injured, including two police officers who were responding to the incident.
In the midst of terror, moments of courage emerged. A bystander, later identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, tackled and disarmed one of the shooters, helping to stem the violence before officers arrived, though he was wounded in the confrontation. That act of bravery will be forever remembered by those who survived the gunfire.
Australian leaders were swift in their reaction. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the shooting as an “act of evil antisemitism” and vowed that “an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns echoed the sentiment, calling the violence “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community” and pledging full support for victims and their families.
Communities across Australia and around the world have begun to mourn publicly. In Sydney, vigils sprung up near Bondi and at synagogues, where candles lit the night in collective grief for those lost. Globally, leaders joined in solidarity, denouncing hatred and emphasizing unity against extremism. In the wake of this tragedy, as investigations continue and grief settles in, the memory of Matilda — a child whose life had barely begun — stands as a poignant reminder of the human cost of hatred and the fragile promise of peace.
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