15 people were killed and dozens injured after two gunmen, a father-son duo, opened fire on Hanukkah festival crowds at Bondi Beach, prompting police to declare the shooting a terrorist attack.
Australia will roll out a massive national gun buyback scheme in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday, as thousands of surfers and swimmers gathered on Bondi Beach to honour those killed in the attack.
The proposed buyback will mirror sweeping firearms reforms introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompting some of the toughest gun laws in the world.
“Australia’s gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy. The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,” Albanese said while addressing a press conference.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured on December 14 (Sunday) when two gunmen opened fire on crowds celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, at Bondi Beach. Police have declared the shooting a terrorist incident.
One of the attackers, a 50-year-old man who was shot dead at the scene, held a valid firearms licence and had six registered guns. The revelation has intensified scrutiny of Australia’s gun control framework.
Albanese said there are an estimated four million firearms in the country. The buyback will focus on surplus weapons, newly banned firearms and illegal guns, with costs shared between the federal and state governments.
According to police, the attack was carried out by a father and son. Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. His father, Sajid, was killed during the shooting.
Australia’s national cabinet has also agreed on a fresh set of restrictions, including limits on how many firearms a person can own, tighter controls on open-ended firearms licences, further curbs on the types of guns that are legal, and a requirement that only Australian citizens be eligible to hold a firearms licence.
SURFERS, SWIMMERS PAY TRIBUTE
On Friday morning, thousands of surfers, swimmers and paddlers formed a vast circle in the waters off Bondi Beach, holding a minute’s silence for those killed and injured in the attack. Drone footage captured a massive ring of swimmers and surfers floating on gentle waves, quietly remembering those who lost their lives.
“It’s a pretty proud moment to be part of the community and see everyone come together in solidarity,” surfer Matt Douglas told the Australian Financial Review.
Bondi, one of Australia’s most popular beaches, is a hub for surfers, ocean swimmers and paddleboarders. Dozens of surfers were already in the water on Sunday evening when the shooting began.
Surf lifesavers are set to resume regular patrols at Bondi from Saturday, according to national broadcaster ABC. On Thursday, red and yellow flags were raised for the first time since the attack, signalling the return of patrols. Authorities also reopened the nearby park and bridge where the shooting occurred after police completed forensic examinations.
On Friday, just a few hundred metres from the site of the massacre, surfers and paddleboarders again gathered offshore in a powerful show of unity.
“It’s just beautiful. It’s a gorgeous day and you see that scene. I have seen paddle-outs before but never of that size,” Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told ABC.
