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Sofia and Boris Gurman

Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife, Sofia Gurman, 61, had shared 34 years of marriage before terrorists killed them. Their relatives described the couple as honest and industrious individuals who extended kindness to everyone they encountered. Dashcam video captured Boris Gurman fighting with one of the gunmen in the attack's opening moments. The footage shows Gurman seizing control of the terrorist's firearm for several seconds during their confrontation on the street, before the terrorist shot the couple at point-blank range. Eyewitnesses reported they died in each other's arms.

The family statement read: "Devoted to their family and to each other, their absence has left a void that cannot be filled... In the moments before their passing Boris, with Sofia courageously beside him, attempted to intervene to protect others. This act of bravery and selflessness reflects exactly who they were: people who instinctively chose to help, even at great personal risk."

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Rabbi Eli Schlanger had led his congregation for 18 years and directed the Chabad mission in Bondi, where he assisted numerous individuals ranging from elderly residents to incarcerated people. He is survived by his spouse and several young children, including an infant just two months old, along with his mother and siblings.

"A devoted rabbi and chaplain, working tirelessly … to support Jewish life in the Bondi community," Chabad's statement read.

Matilda

Matilda, a 10-year-old girl, attended the Hanukkah by the Sea event alongside her family members, including her sister, when a terrorist shot her.

Her parents, Valentyna and Michael, surnames withheld on family request, immigrated to Australia from Ukraine before Russia's invasion, The Guardian reported. "We came here from the Ukraine … and I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia. And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist. So just remember – remember her name," the parents stated, articulating heartbreak too vast to fully comprehend.

"Imagine you see your beautiful little sister that you love just being killed in front of you. They were like twins. They've never been separated … Matilda was very friendly. She loves school, has a lot of friends … She's just a happy kid, always gives me cuddles," her aunt Lina shared.

Dan Elkayam

Dan Elkayam, a French citizen, relocated to Australia last year to seek an engineering job. Elkayam played football passionately, and the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club in west Sydney described him as "an integral member" of its premier league squad in a Facebook statement. The club characterized him as "an extremely talented and popular figure amongst teammates. Our deepest and sincerest condolences to Dan's family, friends, and all that knew him. He will be missed," the club's statement read.

"I have learned with deep sadness of the death of our fellow citizen Dan Elkayam in the antisemitism terrorist attack in Sydney," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote. "My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, and I extend to them the full solidarity of the nation."

Peter Meagher

Peter Meagher completed 34 years of service with the NSW Police Force before retiring with the rank of detective sergeant. He volunteered as a first-grade manager for Randwick Rugby. The club mourned the devastating loss of "Marzo" in a statement, saying, "He was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby… He spent so long in the dangerous front line as a police officer and was struck down in retirement while taking photos … Rest in Peace 'Marzo'. We all love you and will miss you greatly. We are devastated." Meagher worked as a freelance photographer at Sunday's Hanukkah event.

"Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Peter. He was a cherished brother, husband, and uncle whose kindness, generosity, and love touched everyone who knew him. Our lives have been changed forever," his family said.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen, 78, was a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who perished while protecting his family members from the gunfire. He immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1988, and his relatives characterized him as vibrant and full of vitality.

"My grandfather was truly the best you could ask for," his granddaughter, Leor, said. "He was so proud of us … and loved us more than life itself. He only saw the best in people and will be dearly missed." 

"He was the congregation's beloved 'candyman' who brought joy and smiles to everyone," Chabad's statement read.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman survived the Holocaust as a child, struggling through a brutal Siberian winter alongside his mother and younger brother to survive. Following the war's conclusion, he departed Ukraine for Australia to pursue a career in civil engineering. His children and grandchildren also attended the Bondi Hanukkah celebrations. Alexander's wife, Larissa, stated her husband of 57 years was murdered while attempting to shield her from gunfire.

"He died shielding her from the gunman's bullets," Chabad's statement read. "In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two children and 11 grandchildren."

Edith Brutman

Edith Brutman was a cherished figure within Sydney's Jewish community. "Our beloved Edith was a woman of integrity who chose humanity every day," her family shared. "She met prejudice with principle, and division with service. Our family mourns her deeply, but we ask that her life, not the senseless violence that took it, be what endures. We hope her memory calls us as a nation back to decency, courage, and peace."

Marika Pogany

Marika Pogany volunteered to transport kosher meals for COA, an organization serving Jewish seniors. "She lifted the room simply by being in it," the organization shared in a statement. "She asked for nothing and gave everything...She took the time to know every person on her route. She chatted. She listened. She noticed the small things. She changed light bulbs, literally bringing light into people's homes. Her joy and spirit carried people through their week and through their loneliness...We are shattered by her loss. Marika gave real love to this community, and her impact runs deep."

Boris Tetleroyd

The fatal shooting of Boris Tetleroyd occurred while he attended Hanukkah by the Sea alongside his son, Yakov. While Yakov sustained gunshot wounds and continues receiving treatment for severe injuries, his father succumbed to his wounds. Boris, a Soviet immigrant, is described as a loving and devoted father.

A fundraising campaign was established by his niece, who described the family's mourning over his "sudden and violent" death. "Our family is facing an unimaginable tragedy after the sudden loss of Boris Tetleroyd in the Bondi attack," his niece, Leia Roitour, said. "He was a loving husband and father, and his absence has left a void that words cannot express. My aunt is now navigating life as a widow, and my cousin is recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained during the attack."

Online social media profiles reveal Tetleroyd's passion for nature, where he documented wildlife encounters from his hiking excursions.

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison was a businessman who escaped the Soviet Union as a teenager in the 1970s and built his life in Bondi. Following a 2024 terror attack on a Melbourne synagogue, he informed the ABC he had become constantly alert, and expected Australia would offer Jews security.

In an interview with ILTV, his daughter recounted her father's heroism, throwing bricks at one of the terrorists to try and stop him. "My dear father was shot dead for being Jewish," his daughter, Sheina, said in pain. "He had jumped up the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks, he was screaming at the terrorist, and protecting his community," she added. "If there was a way for him to go on this earth, it will be fighting a terrorist."

"Most beautiful, generous man who had a gorgeous smile that would light up the room. He built a life here in Australia for his family and was an active member and generous contributor to both Melbourne and Sydney Jewish communities," Rabbi Gabi Kaltman said.

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, was the secretary at the Sydney Beth Din and chief operating officer of Chabad of Bondi. He died alongside Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the assistant rabbi of Chabad of Bondi, who served as emcee that night. The two men had collaborated for years, and their wives had been close friends since high school, according to Chabad. They served the community together and were killed together.

"When something needed to get done, it was Yaakov," family friend Avremi Jospeh said. "From the big-ticket items to simply taking out the trash —he did it all with his full heart and soul... I used to ask him, 'What time do you come home for dinner?' He said, 'I come home at around 8 p.m. every night.' He was completely given over to the community."

Adam Smyth

Adam Smyth, 50, a father of four and devoted husband to Katrina, was killed in the devastating attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. The couple was walking along the beach when the shooting occurred.

Family members described their grief as beyond words, struggling to comprehend the tragic loss. They remembered Adam as someone who lived life to the fullest alongside Katrina, sharing a deep love for family, friends, travel, and sports, even when their team loyalties diverged.

A passionate sports enthusiast, Adam was a devoted supporter of Liverpool FC in the English Premier League, the Sydney Swans in the AFL, and the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL. He also cherished his pets deeply.

Those who knew him described Adam as a generous and kind-hearted individual whose presence was irreplaceable. His family closed their tribute with the famous words of the Liverpool anthem, "You'll never walk alone" (YNWA), reflecting both his love for the club and the enduring bond they shared with him.

The list will be updated as more names are released.

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In his final moments, Rabbi Eli Schlanger raised his hands, walked toward the gunman as he reloaded his weapon, and pleaded with him to stop shooting. Moments later, he was murdered. His wife, Chaya, was shot in the back. Their two-month-old baby, Shimshy, remains hospitalized with shrapnel injuries.

Chaya was also injured in the attack, but in the chaos, she didn't realize she had been hit. "Chaya hid and tried to protect herself and especially her two-month-old baby, and she doesn't remember being hit due to the adrenaline, until suddenly someone standing next to her said: 'You have blood on your back,'" Surla recounted. Their two-month-old son is now recovering at the children's hospital, and Surla praised the "unbelievable" support from the medical staff.

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Video: The Gurmans fight the terrorist / Credit: Social media/X

Family members confirmed Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61, as the individuals after providing a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald. Relatives stated: "We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris and Sofia Gurman," according to The Guardian.

They added: "They had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January. We were looking forward to celebrating Sofia's 62nd birthday on Wednesday 17th of December," The Guardian reported.

Dashboard camera video uploaded to Rednote documented Boris – dressed in purple – tackling shooter Sajid Akram along Campbell Parade as the gunman exited a vehicle displaying an Islamic State banner, according to The Guardian.

These were Boris and Sofia Gurman - murdered in the Sydney massacre. In the face of terror, Boris showed extraordinary courage and disarmed one of the jihadists, trying to save others.

In life and in death, they were not separated pic.twitter.com/Fhbw2BoNsf

— נועה מגיד | Noa magid (@NoaMagid) December 16, 2025

The footage captures Boris forcing Akram down and wresting a firearm from his possession while Sofia participated in the struggle, The Guardian reported.

A Sydney resident whose camera inadvertently recorded the encounter shared the material with a Mandarin caption stating: "Such civilian heroes shouldn't be forgotten," according to The Guardian. Her post continued: "I'm truly heartbroken," The Guardian reported.

Later drone imagery shows the couple lying motionless side by side on the sidewalk. Family members characterized Boris as "a retired mechanic, known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues and community," The Guardian reported.

The statement continued: "Bondi locals, together they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect. Boris and Sofia were devoted to their family and to each other. They were the heart of our family, and their absence has left an immeasurable void," according to The Guardian.

Relatives additionally praised the couple's valor when facing the attacker, The Guardian reported. "In recent days, we have become aware of footage showing Boris, with Sofia by his side, courageously attempting to disarm an attacker in an effort to protect others," family members stated. They added: "While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others," The Guardian reported.

The statement concluded: "We are deeply grateful for the love, compassion and support that has been shown to our family during this unimaginable time. From here, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve," according to The Guardian.

The Gurmans number among 15 fatalities from the Bondi beach terror attack. Most casualties were participating in Hanukkah's opening day when gunfire began, representing Australia's deadliest mass shooting since 1996's Port Arthur tragedy, according to The Guardian.

Thirty-eight additional people sustained injuries, with 24 – including two officers – remaining hospitalized Tuesday afternoon, The Guardian reported.

Six Australia Post coworkers visited Bondi Pavilion Tuesday afternoon honoring Sofia, with one colleague declining identification while confirming years working together, according to The Guardian. All arrived uniformed, placing individual white roses and a card, The Guardian reported. One coworker stated: "It's very tragic and seeing this video made us realise just how brave she and her husband was," according to The Guardian.

Multiple bystanders have received widespread recognition for confronting danger attempting to halt the attackers. Among them is Ahmed al-Ahmed, acknowledged by prime minister Anthony Albanese and US president Donald Trump for charging toward Akram, jumping onto him and seizing the weapon, according to The Guardian.

Ahmed remains critically injured but stable at St George hospital after sustaining four to five shoulder gunshot wounds during the encounter, his parents confirmed to The Guardian. Reuven Morrison's daughter identified her father as the individual observed throwing an object in widely distributed footage, The Guardian reported.

Sheina Gutnick told CBS News Tuesday: "If there was one way for him to go on this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist. There was no other way he would be taken from us. He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved most," according to The Guardian. Authorities fatally shot Sajid Akram, while his son Naveed remains hospitalized under surveillance, The Guardian reported.

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Initial findings point to an ISIS connection, not Iran, which has been proven responsible for torching synagogues and Jewish businesses in the country. The distinction between streams of radical Islam does not diminish the threat: The Iranian model is sometimes replicated in other influence networks, both state and non-state, and in any case, lays the "fertilizer" for attacks on Jewish life.

In August, Australian intelligence concluded that Iran stood behind two attacks: the arson of a kosher delicatessen in Sydney and the torching of a synagogue in Melbourne. The investigation revealed that the Revolutionary Guards recruited local criminals for the "dirty work" – attacking Jewish institutions. In response, Australia expelled the Iranian ambassador, closed its embassy in Tehran, and declared the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization. This marked the first time Australia has expelled an ambassador since World War II.

Tehran also operates "soft power" mechanisms, which allow it and Hezbollah to expand their influence in countries with a significant Shiite minority, among these mechanisms: control over the appointment of imams in religious centers, academic institutions like Al-Mustafa University, cultural centers of the embassy, and the media activities of the Iranian Broadcasting Authority.

In Australia, the influence has manifested in trips to Lebanon and meetings with Hezbollah officials, and even in money transfers through Qard al-Hassan (Hezbollah's banking institution) – as revealed in the breach of the organization's systems.

The disregard for Iran and Hezbollah's "enabling infrastructure" in Australia created a sense of comfort to operate in the country without interference. Similar to the Iranian operational pattern of recruiting Australian criminals for "dirty work" on behalf of the Revolutionary Guards, there has been evidence in the past of connections between criminal elements and Shiite religious institutions, and figures from the Australian underworld were linked to a money laundering network that operated for Hezbollah's benefit.

As a result, Shiite religious centers became the leaders of anti-Israel demonstrations after October 7, waving terror flags without any interference. Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi did not hesitate to praise Hassan Nasrallah, while the embassy simultaneously intensified surveillance and persecution of Iranian dissidents in the country.

The battle is only beginning

But Australia is just one example. Iran operates similar networks around the world: Quds Force planning an attack from Venezuela against the Israeli embassy in Mexico, recruiting Swedish teenagers to attack the embassy in Stockholm, and attempting to harm Israel-Thailand relations through pressure on Thai workers. In Britain, Iranian accounts were exposed, pushing for Scottish independence to weaken the kingdom from within. In Italy, Iranian elements used the cultural center in Tehran to track exiles, and in Germany, the government admitted that the Al-Mustafa University branch in Berlin became a spy center.

The "Israel-centric" view of the Iranian threat causes Israel to miss an opportunity. While Israel focuses on the Iranian power structure – the nuclear program and missiles – Iran enjoys broad freedom of action far from the Middle East. But these developments also create fertile ground for cooperation with countries facing the same negative Iranian influence, and sometimes they are not even aware of the danger.

Western countries are dealing with large-scale immigration, exposing them to various types of foreign influences. Exposing the way Iran uses the Shiite diaspora and the religious power it holds within it could serve as a model for dealing with other radicalization networks: from ISIS's online and partisan networks, through mosque unions controlled by other Middle Eastern states, to non-religious state influences.

In the past year, there has been some awakening. Alongside Australia's moves, Germany closed the Al-Mustafa branch in Berlin and expelled the imam at the "Blue Mosque" in Hamburg, who was accused of receiving direct instructions from the Supreme Leader's office. The "hysterical" response of the regime to any damage to these mechanisms indicates their importance – and also that the battle is only beginning. Whether Iran is responsible for the Sydney attack or not, history proves the need to fight that same "enabling infrastructure."

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The disclosure follows ABC's documentation of extensive connections between 24-year-old Naveed Akram and Australia's pro-Islamic State network, including associations with extremist cleric Wisam Haddad and imprisoned youth recruiter Youssef Uweinat, according to ABC.

Legal counsel for Haddad stated he "vehemently denies any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi Beach," ABC reported. Authorities are examining the Akrams' links to international jihadist networks after establishing their early November arrival in Manila, case-briefed officials disclosed to ABC.

The duo subsequently journeyed to the southern Philippines for terrorist training, a senior counter-terrorism official confirmed anonymously to ABC. Late November marked their return to Australia – mere weeks before Sunday's beachfront slaughter, officials told ABC.

Since the early 1990s, the Philippines has functioned as a terrorist hub, hosting training facilities relocated from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to southern Mindanao, ABC reported. Security sources have withheld specific location and movement details regarding the pair's time in the southern Philippines, according to ABC.

ASIO, the nation's intelligence service, investigated Naveed Akram in 2019 over his Sydney-based IS terrorist cell associations, ABC revealed Monday.

Ahmed, you are an Australian hero.

You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.

In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that's exactly what we saw on Sunday night.

On behalf of every Australian, I… pic.twitter.com/mAoObU3TZD

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 16, 2025

The then-18-year-old displayed "indications of intent" and concerning connections prompting ASIO's 2019 investigation, though additional scrutiny was deemed unwarranted then, a senior security source told ABC. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed the 7.30 program Monday evening that ASIO's six-month probe uncovered "no evidence" of radicalization in either father or son, ABC reported.

Neither man appeared on terrorism watchlists before the assault, and licensed gun owner Sajid Akram encountered no legal barriers to firearm possession, according to ABC.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, questioned on Radio National today about whether the Philippines travel alerted national security agencies, provided no direct answer, ABC reported. Burke observed that following ASIO's 2019 inquiry, "there was a radical change in the risk profile of that individual," according to ABC.

Two Islamic State flags discovered in the Akrams' Bondi Beach vehicle led investigators to conclude the pair had pledged allegiance to the terrorist group, ABC disclosed Monday.

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Since emigrating to Australia on a student visa in 1998, Akram – formerly residing in Hyderabad's Tolichowki area – rarely set foot in India, making the journey only "two-three occasions," authorities disclosed to The Hindu.

"His father died in 2017; he did not even come to attend his last rites," a senior government official reported to The Hindu. Other officials told The Hindu that Akram's close family members still live in Hyderabad, including an elder brother practicing medicine. The late father finished his UAE military career in 1984.

Naveed Akram – Sajid's son and the attack's second perpetrator – took police bullets and remains under medical care, The Hindu learned. Born in Australia in 2001, he holds Australian nationality. "After completing bachelors in commerce from Hyderabad, Akram moved to Australia and married a European woman. He retained his Indian passport," the official conveyed to The Hindu.

Asked about possible Indian ties, the source informed The Hindu, "Preliminary investigation does not establish any local links so far. We do not have access to his activities in Australia. His background was checked based on information from our sources."

Information verified by The Hindu indicates Australian investigators maintain active dialogue described as "in touch" with Indian officials about the examination.

Philippine immigration personnel disclosed Tuesday that Sajid Akram entered their territory on an Indian passport in November, accompanied by his Australian-national son Naveed Akram, The Hindu reported.

"Sajid Akram, 50, Indian national, and Naveed Akram, 24, Australian national, arrived in the Philippines together last November 1, 2025, from Sydney, Australia," announced Dana Sandoval, speaking for the Bureau of Immigration, to Manila news outlets Tuesday, per The Hindu.

The Ministry of External Affairs offered no statement regarding Philippine authorities' comments, The Hindu found. Officials stressed that Australian investigators bear the duty of providing probe particulars.

Australian investigators have so far withheld comment on the attackers' backgrounds, the report noted. When pressed whether Sajid Akram originated from India or Pakistan, as certain accounts proposed, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said such information forms part of the active investigation.

"So I can't go into that detail and it wouldn't be appropriate to undermine the investigation by going into it," Prime Minister Albanese addressed reporters Tuesday, according to The Hindu.

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The first common denominator is the transformation of Jews everywhere, simply because of who they are, into targets whose killing is seen as legitimate. Calls for annihilation that have echoed through Western capitals for more than two years have created the atmosphere. Within it, whether through spontaneous initiative or external direction, it is easy to grow active terrorist cells.

The second connecting line between the wave of attacks on Jewish communities around the world is more elusive, and less visible. It is difficult to convince someone who is not Jewish that he will be next in line. On the surface, the global surge in antisemitism is explained away as being because of the war in Gaza or because antisemitism is an ancient disease. Try convincing an American, a Briton or an Australian on the street that whoever murdered Jews today will murder him tomorrow.

And yet, no less than Israel and the Jews, the entire West is threatened by this wave of murderous violence, even if much of it does not yet realize it. Particularly blind has been, and remains, the government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who even after the second deadliest terrorist attack in Australia's history has still failed to internalize where the problem lies. His feeble initial response to the attack illustrates just how little he understands the severity of the threat that has been built under his nose during his time in office.

Albanese has displayed an especially conciliatory line toward the violence raging in his country since the October 7 massacre. Instead of banning violent slogans such as "global intifada" and "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," he recognized a Palestinian state. Instead of filtering out the entry of inciting terrorists, he barred senior and junior Israelis from entering Australia. In his great foolishness, Albanese failed to understand that anyone who legitimizes a massacre that took place thousands of kilometers from his country will ultimately end up with a slaughterhouse on the most famous beach of his own. That is the nature of terror. It has no borders.

This is precisely the problem of the progressive West. Paradoxically, in Arab countries, in China and in Russia, an iron fist crushes the incubator of radical Islam. There, in countries that are not democracies, there is an understanding that this current cultivates both extremist slogans and the violence itself. By contrast, in countries that call themselves liberal, the incitement and the violence that follows it run wild, with very few restraints.

An absurd spectacle

In an absurd spectacle that is hard to comprehend, radical Islamists in America openly express their aspiration to conquer the White House. They would never dare make a similar call in Morocco, Dubai, Beijing or Moscow. Or take Qatar's Al Jazeera, banned from broadcasting in much of the Arab world, yet free to incite across the West. Can there be any justification for such folly?

For now, only Jews, both in their own country and abroad, are paying with their lives for this moral feebleness. But as always in history, we are only the first. Just like the Nazis or the communists, radical Islam, both Shiite and Sunni, threatens to overtake democracies, in this case by doing so from within.

When one thinks about it, this is exactly what our Hasmonean forefathers fought against. The dominant culture of their time sought to erase their identity and values as handed down through Jewish tradition. In the end, Jewish tradition and morality endured and prevailed. So it will be this time as well, heavy as the price may be.

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A father and son opened fire on crowds and murdered 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Fifteen people were murdered in the attack, and 38 were wounded, some critically. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, according to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. Two of the wounded died overnight in Sydney hospitals.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach on Monday morning after ordering Australian flags lowered to half-mast following the attack. "Australia will not be divided by hate or violence," he wrote on X. "We will confront this head-on. And we will stand together in solidarity with Jewish Australians and with one another."

Memorial for the murdered Jews at the place of the massacre, Bondi Beach pic.twitter.com/PZZNZXvReQ

— Gameover (@EricS2075) December 15, 2025

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accused Albanese of allowing antisemitism to "spread" and failing to protect Jewish Australians. "Everything must change from today," she said. "We have seen public sites become symbols of antisemitic hate. We have seen campuses occupied and Jewish students made to feel afraid. We have seen synagogues firebombed at the direction of foreign terror states."

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According to the report, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation examined one of the terrorists, Naveed Akram, 24, who was wounded during an exchange of fire with police, six years ago over suspected ties to an ISIS cell in Sydney.

The review began shortly after the arrest of Issak al-Mattari in July 2019, an ISIS terrorist who planned a "revolt" in Australia and was identified as the group's commander in the country. Counterterrorism sources said Akram was closely linked to al-Mattari and to others in the cell who were later convicted of terrorism offenses.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said Sunday that one of the attackers had been known to the agency, but added it was not in the context of an "immediate threat," and that authorities needed to examine what had happened.

The father, Sajid Akram, 50, a fruit shop owner, had held a firearms license for at least a decade and owned six registered weapons, all of which were found at the scene. Sajid was killed in the exchange of fire with police. Improvised explosive devices were also found in the attackers' vehicle and were dismantled by bomb disposal teams.

Dramatic footage from the attack shows the son standing on a bridge near the lawn where the Hanukkah celebration was being held, firing rapidly with a shotgun. The father was seen advancing toward the revelers and shooting until he was subdued by a civilian who happened to be nearby, leapt on him with courage and disarmed him. The civilian was identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed.

Australian media reported that Naveed had worked as a construction laborer until about two months ago, when the company that employed him collapsed. Screenshots circulating on social media show him marking the completion of studies at a local religious institution.

The family lived in the suburb of Bonnyrigg in western Sydney with the parents and two younger siblings. Police raided the home after the attack, and a video circulating on social media showed two people exiting the house with their hands raised.

The mother, Verna, was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as police surrounded her home: "He has no weapon. He doesn't even go out. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. Anyone would want a son like mine, he's a good boy." She said she was unable to identify her son from images published from the scene.

Describing her last conversation with him on Sunday morning, she said: "He called and said: Mom, I went swimming. I did a dive. We're going to eat now, and then we'll stay home because it's very hot."

Fifteen people were killed in the attack and 38 wounded, some in critical condition. The victims' ages ranged from 10 to 87, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said. Two of the wounded died overnight in Sydney hospitals.

Australian media identified 10-year-old Matilda as one of those killed, without giving her surname. She was reported to be a student at the local Russian school, and a former teacher described her as "a radiant, joyful child full of life." Her aunt wrote on social media: "A great tragedy has happened to my family. My beloved niece Matilda was murdered in a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. I don't know how one survives such grief."

Alex Kleytman

A Holocaust survivor born in Ukraine, about 80, was killed while shielding his wife, Larisa, with his body. The couple had been married for about 50 years and left behind two children and 11 grandchildren. Larisa told the Daily Mail: "We were standing there and suddenly there was 'boom, boom,' and everyone fell. I think he was shot because he raised himself to protect me. A bullet hit his head." Speaking outside the hospital, she was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald: "I have no husband. I don't know where his body is. No one can give me an answer."

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Schlanger, 41, a British-born assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi since 2008, was the organizer of the event at which he was killed. He was married and the father of five, the youngest an infant. In September, after Australia recognized a Palestinian state, he sent a public letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "As a rabbi in Sydney, I beg you not to betray the Jewish people."

His father-in-law and community rabbi Yoram Ullman delivered a tearful eulogy before worshippers at the morning prayer service. "All the terrorists want to do is suffocate our lives as Jews, to bring us down, to destroy us, to make us lose hope," he said, wiping away tears. "They are looking at us now and waiting to see whether we continue, whether we ensure that everything they worked for continues even stronger. Now is the time to unite, to forget the small things that happened between us in the community."

Dan Elkayam

Elkayam, 27, arrived in Australia from France about a year ago and worked at a high-tech company. The local football club where he played wrote: "He was a talented and deeply loved figure. Our heartfelt condolences to Dan's family, his friends and everyone who knew him. He will be missed."

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the nation's "full solidarity" with his family, and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote: "This criminal act is another tragic expression of the shocking surge of antisemitic hatred. The lights of Hanukkah do not go out, and will not go out."

Reuben Morrison

A businessman who emigrated from the Soviet Union, Morrison discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney and became a pillar of the city's Chabad community, according to local media. He split his time between Sydney, where he ran his businesses, and Melbourne, where he lived with his wife and daughter, Shayna.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach in the morning after ordering Australian flags lowered to half-staff following the attack. "Australia will not be divided by hate or violence," he wrote on X. "We will confront this head-on and stand together in solidarity with Australian Jews and with each other."

Opposition Leader Susan Ley accused Albanese of allowing antisemitism to "spread" and of failing to protect Australian Jews. "Everything must change from today," she said. "We have seen public sites turn into symbols of antisemitic hatred. We have seen campuses taken over and Jewish students made to feel afraid. We have seen synagogues torched at the direction of foreign terrorist states."

Gillian Segal, the government-appointed envoy to combat antisemitism, also said Australia had not been strong enough. "Sadly, I have to say I held my breath out of fear that something like this would happen," she told ABC. "From October 9, when we saw that hatred at the protest at the Sydney Opera House that was not stopped, then the extreme demonstrations at the Harbour Bridge, and now Bondi Beach."

Throughout the day, many residents came to the scene to lay flowers and pay their respects to the victims. At the same time, New South Wales Police announced a special operation to bolster security around synagogues, schools and other Jewish community institutions.

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