The Details Known About the Victims of the Bondi Beach Terrorist Incident

A minimum of 16 lives lost their lives and over 40 were wounded when assailants shot at a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, a tragedy Australian authorities are describing as a act of terrorism.

In the latest update, officials have announced the number of fatalities stands at 16, including one of the alleged attackers. Moreover, 42 wounded individuals were taken to medical facilities.

The victims are still awaiting publicly named, but authorities state their ages span between 10 and 87 years old.

Below are the victims who are known to date.

Eli Schlanger

London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was the first to be publicly identified.

Known as a father of five children, he was the assistant rabbi at a local Jewish cultural centre. Family members and acquaintances spoke of him as “lively, dynamic, and vibrant and a very warm outgoing person who was dedicated to assisting others”.

“How is it possible that a happy rabbi who went to a beach to share joy and positivity, to make the world a better place, meet his end in this way?” a family member asked.

Schlanger and his wife had recently celebrated the birth of their newest son just a few months ago.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman was also confirmed among the deceased, as stated by his wife.

She described the events leading up to the shooting, saying they had been standing together when the shooting began. “He shielded me because he wanted to stay near me,” she recalled.

The husband and wife were both survivors of the Holocaust, having faced immense hardship in their childhood. They had subsequently moved to Australia from Eastern Europe.

Dan Elkayam

French foreign ministry have confirmed that French man Dan Elkayam is a casualty.

Officially, a senior official said that France stood with his family, the Jewish community, and the Australian people.

“This despicable act is a fresh and tragic example of a disgusting rise of antisemitic hatred that we must put a stop to,” the message read.

One Child

A child who was rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital succumbed to her injuries, authorities stated.

One Israeli Citizen

A national of Israel was also killed during the attack, as per multiple sources referencing the Israeli government.

Those Injured

From the 42 people taken to hospital, a significant number are still under care, with a number in critical condition. Those hurt include two police officers who attended the scene.

A casualty is a bystander who attempted to intervene to confront one of the gunmen. Called a hero, he received bullet wounds but is recovering well in hospital.

Arsen Ostrovsky

One of those wounded is Arsen Ostrovsky, a human rights lawyer. Reports indicate he was hurt and underwent treatment in hospital.

In a message, he recounted the scene as an “absolute bloodbath,” but also noted the response of those who came to assist. He said he felt it was a “stroke of luck” he survived.

Evan Zlatkis

Evan Zlatkis, a media director, was another casualty in the shooting. He told reporters he heard “a large number” of shots.

“Initially, I believed it was rubber bullets, but it penetrated my own skin and into my leg,” he explained. “I’ve been shot myself. I received first aid. I’m ok.”