NEED TO KNOW
- Lifeblood are asking for blood donations after the Bondi Beach attack.
- Sixteen people were killed and dozens more were hospitalised on December 14.
- At around 6.40pm, shots were fired as gunmen targeted Jewish Hanukkah celebrations.
Shockwaves have been sent around the world after the mass shooting on Bondi Beach.
Gunmen opened fire on the Sydney beach at around 6.40pm on Sunday, December 14, in what has been described as a terror attack.
A 50-year-old gunman was shot by police and pronounced dead at the scene, while his son, a 24-year-old suspect, is currently in the hospital.
The shooting targeted Jewish patrons who were attending a Hanukkah event on the beach, and at least 16 people were killed, including one perpetrator, with dozens more injured.
The victims are believed to be aged between 10 and 87, and two police officers are among those injured.
Lifeblood has called for donations to help those hospitalised after the attack, and there have also been support pages set up online.
Read on for all the ways you can help in the wake of the tragedy.
Donating blood
Australians have been asked to give blood as hospitals are operating on a trauma level after the shooting.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood said O-type donors, in particular, are needed to help hospitals across Sydney.
The blood donation service has already transferred donations from other states in Australia, and has urged Sydneysiders to donate if they can.
“If you’re looking for something practical to do, you could give blood,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said at a press conference on Monday morning.
“We saw extraordinary scenes from New South Wales hospitals last night, emergency departments at the drop of a hat were in the process of saving scores of lives.
“They did an incredible job but they need your help. They need blood and, if you’re thinking about doing an act of public service in the coming 24 hours, I urge you to contact the Red Cross and do that piece of public-mindedness, that piece of public spiritedness.”
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Australia has experienced temporary technical difficulties due to the high volume of people trying to visit the website.
But, they were working to “fix the temporary outage”, adding, “We appreciate your patience, and we thank you for helping us meet demand.”
Actions of support
Online support pages have already been set up to assist those who have been affected by the terror attack.
The NSW government has released an online condolence book and has directed those who want to lay flowers to the memorial site at Bondi Pavilion.
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender has urged people to “reach out” to members of the Jewish community in the wake of the tragedy.
“One thing we can do as a country is support out Jewish community right now,” she said.
The Victim Support Scheme will also be providing counselling and assistance to those who have been affected by the shooting.
The CEO of Jewish House, Rabbi Mendel Kastel, has urged Australians to rally round and support the Jewish community during the difficult time.
“Putting arms around us is absolutely appreciated and necessary,” he told the ABC.
“I think those arms need to get wider and wider and more and more people step up … and say we are with the Jewish community.
“The messages of Hanukah, of bringing light, of bringing piece, of bringing togetherness, that needs to be done together. We can’t do it on our own.”
Fundraisers
Fundraisers have already been set up online to help the victims of the attack and their families.
One GoFundMe page has been set up for 10-year-old Matilda, who was reportedly a victim of the shooting.
Matilda’s language teacher set up the fundraiser for the child’s family, and it has already garnered more than $80,000 in donations, at the time of publication.
Another fundraiser has also been set up in support of the shop owner who bravely disarmed a shooter at the scene.
After footage of his bravery circulated online, he was identified as 43-year-old fruit shop owner, Ahmed al Ahmed.
He is currently being treated in the hospital after suffering two gunshot wounds, his family confirmed.
There is also a GoFundMe page for Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s family, after he was one of the victims killed in the terror attack.
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.
