A beloved rabbi was killed at the Bondi Beach event targeted by two alleged gunmen on Sunday. At least 12 people died in the horror incident that unfolded on December 14, just after 6.45pm local time, in the popular area in Sydney’s east.
Among them is Rabbi Eli Schlanger, from the Chabad of Bondi. Just hours before the shooting, he was posting to his Facebook page about the event, Chanukah By The Sea. Fears he was among the casualties erupted as tributes started to pour in on his social media profile. Eliezer Tewel posted about Rabbi Schlanger’s death, as reported by news.com.au. He wrote: « He was just doing his job. Showing up. Being the constant, reliable presence for his community. This is about my friend who is gone. It hurts. It’s confusing. »
Chabad.com confirmed Rabbi Schlanger was among the fatalities. A Facebook post by the organisation read: « Among those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event. Confronting antisemitism, the rabbi recently called for everyone to ‘be more Jewish, act more Jewish and appear more Jewish’. Please have the recovery of the injured in your prayers. »
Hundreds had gathered for the event, which was celebrating the start of the Hanukkah Jewish festival.
At a press release held at approximately 11am GMT, Malcolm Lanyon, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, said he had declared the incident a terror incident.
As it was confirmed that 12 people had died in the incident, Mr Lanyon added 29 people were transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including a child and two police officers. He said: “The condition of those officers and the others transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions. »
He also said: “We know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion, the celebration of Hanukkah, and there was well over a thousand people there when this took place. As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight, at 9.36pm this evening, I declared this to be a terrorist incident.
“I have also authorised special powers under section Five and section six to ensure that if there is a third offender, and we are currently investigating, that at the moment, we will make sure that we prevent any further activity. »
One of the suspected gunmen has also died, police said, while another suspect is in police custody.
Mr Lanyon also said that “several improvised explosive devices” have been found in a car at Bondi Beach linked to the deceased suspected gunman.
He said: “Shortly after the shooting occurred, police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi, which we believe has several improvised explosive devices. We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there at the moment working on that.” Mr Lanyon added that the deceased had been known to the authorities, but there had been no “specific threat”.
The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said the Metropolitan Police is increasing its visibility in Jewish communities ahead of any Hanukkah events in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack.
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, said during the press conference in Canberra that the attack was “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism”.
“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith,” he said. “An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation, an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life. »
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