Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary in Sydney, is among those murdered in the deadly shooting attack that took place today (Sunday) at a Hanukkah celebration at the Chabad House in Bondi Beach, Australia.
Approximately 2,000 celebrants attended the event, most of them members of the local Jewish community. At least ten people were killed in the attack and dozens more were injured.
According to reports, two terrorists armed with shotguns opened fire on the crowd. One of them was shot and wounded, and both were arrested by security forces. Footage from the scene shows celebrants fleeing as live gunfire continued.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs said it is in continuous contact with leaders of the Jewish community in Australia and confirmed that the event was a Chabad gathering attended by thousands of people. “There are many casualties, including fatalities,” the ministry said.
Dramatic footage released from the scene shows harrowing moments from the attack. In the video, a man can be seen hiding behind vehicles before charging at one of the terrorists with his bare hands.
He manages to snatch the shotgun from the terrorist and attempts to fire at him, but the terrorist manages to get away and continues walking unharmed toward a nearby bridge, where another terrorist was standing and firing in all directions.
Later in the footage, another civilian, who had been hiding behind a pickup truck, is seen shooting at the two terrorists and neutralizing them. The two were subsequently arrested by local security forces.
President Isaac Herzog was informed of the terror attack during the Aliyah and Integration Prize ceremony for pioneering immigrants. The president halted the ceremony and addressed those present: “At this very moment, our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia, are under a terrorist attack during the lighting of a Hanukkah candle at a Chabad event on Bondi Beach. Many Jews who came to light the first Hanukkah candle in one of the most magnificent Jewish communities in the world were attacked by despicable terrorists.”
Herzog added: “We send strength from here to our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community in Australia. The heart skips a beat everywhere when hearing what our brothers and sisters are going through. We have warned the Australian government time and again of the need to uproot the criminal and spreading antisemitism in Australia. We pray for the recovery of the wounded, offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and hope to receive better news.”