NEED TO KNOW
- Fifteen victims and one gunman were killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack.
- It is the deadliest incident since the 1996 Port Arthur shooting.
- Gunmen targeted Jewish Hanukkah celebrations in the area.
- Dozens more victims remain in hospital.
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.
Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn has detailed her terror after getting caught up in the Bondi Beach terror attack.
On Sunday, December 14, at least 16 people were killed, including one perpetrator, and dozens more were injured after gunmen opened fire on the Sydney Beach.
The shooting has been deemed a terror attack which targeted Jewish patrons who were attending a Hanukkah celebration in the area.
Reality TV star Lauren has detailed how she was picking up food from a local restaurant in her pyjamas when the first shots rang out at around 6.40pm.
She recalled her terror after initially thinking the sound was a car backfiring, before people started running.
“People started running and screaming, and the police shouted for everyone to get inside,” she told The Daily Mail.
Lauren then “ran for her life” and made it back to her apartment safely, watching the aftermath from her balcony.
“In the US, you see it every week. You don’t ever expect to see it in Bondi,” she emotionally added.
On Monday, December 15, Lauren recalled how an employee from Disaster Relief Australia supported her as she returned to Bondi Beach the following day.
“I was sitting on Bondi Beach having a moment when this happened,” she explained.
“NSW Disaster relief, Danny. Danny sat and chatted with me for 10 minutes and I saw him making his way around chatting to anyone sitting alone.
“Seeing everyone come together yesterday shows us what Australians are really about, Australians from all backgrounds protecting each other.
“My heart is with our Jewish community, hero Ahmed al Ahmed and all first responders and locals helping us bring people to safety. These people represent who we truly are as Austrlians.
“Let’s not let yesterday’s tragedy divide us even more.”
At least 15 victims were killed in the mass shooting, which targeted members of the Jewish community attending a Hanukkah event.
Police believe the victims’ ages range between 10 and 87, and one of the victims has been named as Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
Dozens more people, including children and two police officers, remain in hospital, while one of the shooters was killed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “pure evil” as he condemned the act of violence.
“Yesterday was indeed a dark day in our nation’s history, but we as a nation are stronger than the cowards that did this,” he said.
One of the alleged shooters has been identified by a police source as Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg, according to the ABC.
His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was allegedly the second gunman, who was shot dead at the scene.
He was allegedly a licensed firearms holder, with all six of his firearms being recovered at the scene in Bondi, according to police.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities were satisfied there was not a third gunman involved.
“We are satisfied there were two offenders involved in yesterday’s incident,” he said.
“One is deceased, the second is in critical but stable condition in hospital at the moment.”
More than 300 police officers have been deployed to provide extra security and support to the Jewish community in Sydney following the attack.
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