Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologises to Jewish community after Bondi vigil booing

Anthony Albanese has apologised to Australia’s Jewish community after he was booed at a vigil marking the Bondi Beach massacre.

Emerging from a meeting of cabinet on Monday, the Prime Minister said he was “sorry” and that he felt “the weight of responsibility”.

“Last night, the Jewish community returned to Bondi, along with many thousands of other Australians, to show that unity will triumph over division,” Mr Albanese told reporters at Parliament House.

“Love will always triumph over hatred. And, importantly, light will triumph over darkness.

“And that was the theme of the vigil – light over darkness.

“Emotions were raw, and a lot of people in the community are hurting and angry, and some of that anger was directed towards me, and I understand that.

“As prime minister, I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened while I’m prime minister.

“And I’m sorry for what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole has experienced.

“The government will work every day to protect Jewish Australians.”

He called for “unity”, warning Australians against letting the “ISIS-inspired terrorist win”.

“We won’t let them divide our society,” he said.

“And we’ll get through this together.”

Boos erupted at the Bondi Beach vigil on Sunday as Mr Albanese, flanked by wife Jodie Haydon, made his way into the event precinct.

One man was caught on camera seemingly trying to run at him.

The man was stopped by members of Mr Albanese’s large security detail.

Pinned against a wall by officers, the man shouted: “Blood on your hands, blood on your hands.”

As he took his seat, another attendee yelled: “Shame on you.”

The booing continued when he was introduced on stage.

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