Bondi Beach terrorist attack live updates: Boris and Sofia Gurman revealed as couple who tried to stop shooter

Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has called on the Government to protect all Australians, regardless of whether they are Jewish, Muslim or of another faith.

“For the last four years, I was very clear about the dangers of the rise in anti-Semitism,” Mr Maimon said from Bondi Beach.

“In my public statements, I mentioned and shared my concerns about the rise after October 7 in particular.

“What one can expect when it is painted all over Australia on synagogues, buildings, public buildings, calling for the death of Israel, death to the IDF, and then cars are put on fire.”

The Ambassador said he has visited the site of every synagogue that has been attacked in Australia since October 7.

“I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the community, to all Australians and to join the community in their call to the government to take all necessary measures to make sure that the life of every Australian, whether they are Jewish, Muslim or Christian, would be safe.”

Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has travelled from Israel to Sydney to visit the site of the deadly terrorist attack that targeted the Jewish community.

“My vocabulary is rich enough to express how I feel,” he said at Bondi Beach on Tuesday.

“My heart is torn apart. The Australians of Jewish faith, the Jewish community, is also my community. My people.

“The people that were brutally murdered here are people that I have known. I have met. I am here today, first and foremost, to be here with my friends, my community.

“I am here with them in this very difficult time.”

Former prime minister Scott Morrison says anti-Semitism was the “loaded weapon” at the centre of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

“The Bondi Terrorist Attack on our Jewish Community was the product of anti-Semitism that has been allowed to flourish in Australia since the October 7 attacks in Israel in 2023 and enable the terrorist violence that has now desecrated our nation,” he wrote on X.

“Antisemitism was the loaded weapon at the centre of this terrorist crime. That is the weapon that Governments, and all Australians alike, must now be focussed on removing from our society.”

Mr Morrison has called for reviews of all security laws and operational practices.

“This is standard practices (sic), but they must not distract us from the primary cause of this terrorist attack - antisemitism. That is where leadership must focus.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his Government’s actions to combat anti-Semitism in Australia, telling the ABC that recommendations have been rolled out since special envoy Jillian Segal’s report was handed down in July.

He said that the Government has criminalised hate symbols, established an anti-Semitism envoy and appointed a national student ombudsman.

“There wasn’t an antisemitism envoy before our Government established one and antisemitism didn’t begin in 2022,” he said.

The PM added that the Bondi Beach terror attack appears to have been motivated by Islamic State group ideology.

“Anti-Semitism, of course, has been around for a very long period of time. Islamic State is an ideology that, tragically, over the last decade, particularly since 2015, has led to the radicalisation of some people to this extreme position,” he said.

There has been an outpouring of community support following the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday that claimed the lives of 15 innocent people and left dozens hospitalised.

Nearly $2.5 million has been raised across four verified and approved fundraisers for people affected by the massacre.

Two separate fundraisers are gathering funds for Ahmed Al Ahmed, the hero who wrestled a weapon from one of the shooters.

Another fundraiser has been launched for the family of 10-year-old Matilda, who tragically succumbed to her injuries on Sunday evening after attending the Hanukkah celebrations with her family.

A fourth fundraiser has been set up in memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who leaves behind his wife and five children, including a newborn baby.

Read the full story here.

Father-son gunmen Naveed and Sajid Akram reportedly travelled to the Philippines in the weeks before the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack, raising questions about terrorist organisation links.

It is understood that Naveed and Sajid spent between two weeks to a month in the area, with ASIO, NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police now expected to prove links to the listed terrorist organisation Islamic State East Asia (ISEA).

Their exact movements within the region are currently shrouded in mystery, with authorities yet to provide details on what they know.

The group, which was listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian Government in 2017, is renowned for being a pathway to radicalisation.

The ISEA is one of the Islamic State’s wilayat-bayat (“peripheric provinces”) according to information on the Australian Government’s National Security website.

Read the full story here.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says the country has “changed forever” following the Bondi attack that claimed the lives of 15 innocent people.

Speaking to Sunrise on Tuesday, Ms Ley says she is determined to force the strongest response when it comes to tackling the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia.

“What I have been hearing the last two years is that for Jewish Australians, their lives have been made harder and harder because of anti-Semitism,” she said.

The Opposition Leader also demanded that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese review the recommendations handed down to him by anti-Semitism special envoy Jillian Segal.

“Australians are waiting to hear from their Prime Minister on this scourge of anti-Semitism that is talked about, it needs to be acted on…and given the priority that, sadly, it hasn’t had,” she said.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has provided an update on the health status of the 26 people who remain hospitalised following the Bondi terror attack.

Twelve are still in critical condition, Mr Park told Sunrise on Tuesday morning, while the children hospitalised are all in stable conditions.

In good news, some in that critical category are becoming more stable.

Mr Park said he will head to Prince of Wales Hospital today, where he will pay a “big thank you to the clinical staff and everybody who has worked over the 36 hours or so to treat people with some horrendous injuries.”

“To be able to treat so many patients right across Sydney hospitals is a true testament to the incredible healthcare system we’re lucky to have in NSW”.

A growing number of vigils are taking place around the world to honour those killed and wounded in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Australian flags are also flying at half-mast at some embassies across Europe.

Tributes have been left outside Australia’s embassy in London.

There has been an outpouring of grief at Bondi Pavilion, the site of the shooting, with mourners laying flowers throughout Monday evening.