Bondi shooting as it happened: 15 victims confirmed dead following massacre, PM to strengthen gun laws

We’re wrapping up our live coverage for the evening, but here are the key points you need to know following the nation-stopping massacre.

• Two gunmen opened fire at Bondi beach early on Sunday evening, killing 15 innocent people, in a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community. (Read the full report here).
• The gunman were identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west.
• Sajid was killed at the scene while Naveed is injured and in police custody.
• It was confirmed the father and son were “acting alone”.
• Hero bystander who risked his life to wrestle a gun off one of the shooters and ended up getting shot himself was revealed as 42-year-old father of two, Ahmed al-Ahmed.
• The 10-year-old child killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack was identified as Matilda Poltavchenko.
• Rabbi Eli Schlanger, retired police officer Peter Meagher, Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman, Frenchman Dan Elkayam, community volunteer Marika Pogany, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan and grandfather Tibor Weitzen were also revealed as victims of the dark event.
• US President Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were among the political figures who offered their solidarity.
• Anthony Albanese was condemned by Political figures and the community for his handling of anti-Semitisim within Australia.
• Albanese convened national cabinet on Monday afternoon to look at capping the number of firearms any individual can own, restricting which guns are legal, and making Australian citizenship a condition of holding a gun license.

We’ll be back in just a few hours with more rolling coverage.

Thanks for joining us.

The families of the two NSW Police officers injured in the Bondi shooting break silence in touching statement.

Probationary constable Jack Hibbert and constable Scott Dyson were seriously injured after terrorists opened fire on people at the Hanukkah By The Sea religious celebration at Bondi Beach.

On Monday the NSW Police released a statement on behalf of Mr Hibbert and Mr Dyson’s families.

“The families of the two injured officers wish to pass on their thoughts to the loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the Bondi shooting tragedy,” the statement read.

“They also want to express their heartfelt gratitude to all first responders who acted with courage, in particular the police officers and paramedics who responded. They also wish to thank their hospital team, and especially those in ICU.

“They thank the community for their support but have asked for privacy as their loved ones focus on recovery and healing.”

Before Sunday’s terrorist attack on Bondi Beach, Sydney’s Jewish community was angry, resentful and afraid.

For two years Jewish leaders complained that Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong refused to provide them with political, legal and rhetorical protection from extremist elements in the Muslim community.

From verbal abuse and graffiti to the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne and a cafe in Sydney, Jews felt they were being singled out for violence and intimidation unlike any other Australian religious or racial group.

Despite decades of building relationships with the Labor Party, Jews felt abandoned when the Federal Government appeared to take sides against the Jewish state three months ago by granting diplomatic representation to what it regards as a Palestinian state.

Read the full story here.

For most Australians, the carnage that unfolded in Bondi on Sunday afternoon was unthinkable. Unimaginable.

The sound of gunshots piercing the soporific early summer calm is something that is simply not part of our reality. Terror doesn’t happen here. Not in Australia.

Jewish Australians were under no such delusion.

For more than two years, their lives have been infected by anxiety; their eyes wide open to the creeping tide of anti-Semitism which roiled around them.

Read the full story ​here​.

The State’s top cop says he is confident the armoury of six legal firearms used by a father and son to wage terror at Bondi Beach would not have passed muster in WA.

Col Blanch said the State’s new Firearms Act, which came into effect in March, offers the community better protection.

“The law allows me to take guns off exactly that type of person, which we have already done on multiple occasions here in WA since the Firearms Act has come in place,” the Police Commissioner said.

“I will stick to my community of Western Australia and enact those but I think Australia deserves those answers from those relevant agencies in the fullness of time when they understand those details.”

Read the full story ​here​.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed Al Ahmed, the man who wrestled a weapon from one of the shooters, in hospital on Monday.

The 43-year-old has been in hospital receiving treatment for the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained during the horrific attack.

Mr Minns posted a photo with Ahmed on Instagram just after 5pm AWST on Monday, thanking the “real-life hero” for his brave actions.

“Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” the caption read.

“It was an honour to spend time with him just now and to pass on the thanks of people across NSW.

“There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage.

“Thank you, Ahmed.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns admits the Bondi shooting should have been handled differently.

“If we had our time again, we would have responded differently,” he said.

“We don’t get a second chance unfortunately and we need to make sure we make changes form today to protect communities across NSW, in particular the Jewish community.”

Anthony Albanese said the tragedy demonstrated both the best, and worst, of humanity, referring to the bravery of bystander Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, who disarmed one of the gunman.

When speaking to the ABC on Monday the PM also confirmed that the 24 year old shooter had been investigated by ASIO in 2019 for ties to Islamic State, but the agency found no evidence of radicalisation.

He did not accept the suggestion by Israeli president Benjamin Netenyahu that his endorsement of a two-state solution was linked to Sunday’s attack.

The father and son Bondi Beach terrorists were “acting alone” when they killed 15 innocent victims at a Jewish festival on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.

He said the “clear advice” from police was that there was no evidence of collusion and no evidence they were part of a terrorist cell.

“Clearly they were motivated by this extremist ideology and further detail will be released when police go through their work,” he said.

“But it would appear these two have acted alone, driven though by this evil ideology.”

Nearly $1.5 million has been raised across three different GoFundMe’s so far for Bondi victims and the hero that tackled one of the gunmen.

In just 17 hours nearly $1 milion has been raised for Ahmed Al Ahmed following his heroic act of bravery where he intervened and wrestled a weapon off one of the shooters.

He suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the ordeal and is currently in hospital.

Another has seen more than $236,000 raised in honour of 10-year-old Matila Poltavchenko, the youngest identified victim that was caught up in the horrific tragedy.

Set up by Matila’s language teacher, the donations from the GoFundMe will go towards her family.

While a third fundraiser set up to again support Mr Ahmed and families affected from the terror attack has seen donations upwards of $183,000 pour in.