MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — On Sunday at 6:47 p.m. local time (7:47 GMT), Australians will gather to light candles in memory of the 15 victims of the recent mass shooting at Bondi Beach during a Jewish festival. The shooting, which marks Australia's deadliest attack since 1996, saw gunmen open fire during the Hanukkah celebration last Sunday.
The federal government and New South Wales state have officially designated Sunday as a national Day of Reflection. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also announced a review of Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies in response to the attack, which was reportedly influenced by the Islamic State group.
Indigenous leaders performed a traditional smoking ceremony Sunday morning at Bondi Pavilion, the site of a growing memorial adorned with flowers and heartfelt messages for the victims. This memorial, created to honor those affected, will be cleared the following day.
Rabbi Levi Wolff anticipates thousands will join in at Bondi later in the evening amidst increased security measures to honor the victims and support the Jewish community. He emphasized that the attack was not solely against Jewish people but rather an affront to Australian values, stating, "Australians appreciate that this is an attack that wasn't just against the Jewish people...there is no tolerance for hate."
Governor-General Sam Mostyn took part in laying flowers at the memorial, inviting women of all faiths to join her in the tribute. Hundreds of women and girls dressed in white participated in the ceremony, which Mostyn described as a response to "unspeakably, ghastly acts of terror." She endorsed calls for "mitzvahs," or acts of kindness, as a collective response to the tragedy, stating that everyone belongs in this country.
The attack involved two gunmen who opened fire during the celebrations on the first day of Hanukkah. As of Sunday, 13 people injured in the attack were still receiving treatment in Sydney hospitals. Among them is Naveed Akram, 24, the alleged gunman, who has been charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder. His father, Sajid Akram, was killed by police at the scene.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, police have ramped up security around Bondi, employing officers armed with rifles. There was criticism regarding the initial police response, where officers were only equipped with Glock pistols, which were deemed insufficient against the assailants' more dangerous weaponry. Two police officers were critically injured during the attack.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has assured the public that the increase in police presence was not due to an elevated security alert but was aimed at allowing the community to come together to honor the victims without fear. Flags are being flown at half-staff across various locations, including on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and government buildings will feature yellow lighting as a sign of solidarity with the Jewish community.
At 6:47 p.m., television and radio networks will pause for a minute of silence to honor the victims. Rabbi Eli Feldman invited members of the wider Australian community to Light the eighth candle at Bondi, symbolizing that "light will always overcome darkness" as Hanukkah concludes at sundown on Monday.
As part of the governmental response to the attack, Albanese’s department will explore whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies had the appropriate powers and coordination in place to protect Australians. The review is scheduled for completion by the end of April 2026. It has come to light that Australia’s primary domestic spy agency had previously investigated Akram’s associates back in 2016 but did not identify him as a threat at that time.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, expressed that the families of the victims feel "tragically, unforgivably let down" by governmental shortcomings in combating the rise in antisemitism in Australia, particularly since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023. Many in the community are currently experiencing a mix of emotions, including anger, as they seek answers and changes in response to the attack.
