Australia’s Bondi Beach Terror Attack Killed 15 People and the World Still Hasnt Learned Anything

Fifteen people are dead. Including a ten year old girl. Because a father and son decided that celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach was somehow offensive enough to warrant mass murder.

I dont even know where to start with this one.

On Sunday December 14th a father-son duo opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at one of Australias most famous beaches. The attackers – Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24 – showed up with six legally obtained firearms, homemade ISIS flags in their car, and an improvised explosive device. The older Akram was shot dead by police. His son is now facing 59 charges including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

This is Australias worst mass shooting since Port Arthur in 1996. Let that sink in for a second.

But heres what really gets me. There were heroes that day. A Russian-Jewish couple named Boris and Sofia spotted the ISIS flag on the attackers car and tried to stop them before the shooting even started. They wrestled with one of the gunmen. They were both killed for their bravery.

Then theres Ahmed al-Ahmed. A 42 year old Syrian-born fruit shop owner who charged one of the attackers and seized his rifle. He took shotgun wounds to the shoulder and upper body. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited him in the hospital and called him “a real-life hero.” Which yeah. Thats exactly what he is.

The response from Australians has been something else. Over 50,000 people booked blood donation appointments on Monday alone – more than double the previous record. Almost 1,300 people signed up to donate for the first time. Appointments at the Bondi location were booked solid through the end of December.

Meanwhile the government is scrambling. Australias national Cabinet has pledged to “eradicate antisemitism” and strengthen gun laws. Turns out the father had accumulated his weapons legally through a gun club membership. So thats reassuring.

The son Naveed had been on intelligence officials radar since 2019 but was deemed “not an immediate threat.” He was connected to a Sydney street preaching group and followed radical preacher Wissam Haddad. Videos show him proselytizing for the Street Dawah Movement years ago.

Both attackers traveled to the Philippines last month. To an island known for Islamist insurgency. Investigators are still trying to figure out what they did there.

Look I get it. You cant catch every potential terrorist. Intelligence agencies have limited resources and limited information. But when someone is connected to a known ISIS supporter, travels to terrorist hotspots, and has access to six firearms… maybe that warrants more than a “not an immediate threat” classification?

The funerals have started. Rabbi Eli Schlanger – a 41 year old father of five who organized the Chanukah by the Sea event – was among the first to be laid to rest. He served as chaplain in prisons and hospitals. He was trying to bring his community together.

And now his community is burying him.

Antisemitic incidents in Australia have exploded since October 7, 2023. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents in the past year. That includes arson attacks on synagogues and schools. Jewish families in Australia have been telling anyone who would listen that they were afraid. That something like this could happen.

Nobody listened hard enough.

The world keeps having these conversations after every attack. We talk about radicalization and intelligence failures and gun laws and community protection. Then we move on until the next time. And theres always a next time.

Fifteen people went to celebrate a holiday at the beach. They didnt come home. A ten year old girl didnt come home. A Holocaust survivor didnt come home.

We’ve seen similar violence targeting communities in supposedly safe spaces before. It never stops feeling senseless.

At some point we have to admit that whatever were doing isnt working. But I dont know what would work. I dont think anyone does. And thats maybe the worst part of all of this.