What We Know About the Those Lost of the Bondi Beach Terrorist Incident

A minimum of 16 lives perished and more than 40 sustained injuries when attackers fired on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, an incident local authorities are describing as a terrorist attack.

In the latest update, officials have stated the number of fatalities stands at 16, encompassing one of the alleged attackers. Furthermore, 42 wounded individuals were taken to the hospital.

The deceased are still awaiting officially identified, but authorities state their ages span between 10 and 87 years old.

Below are the individuals who are known to date.

Eli Schlanger

London-born clergyman Eli Schlanger, 41, was the first victim to be named.

Described as a father-of-five, he served as the assistant rabbi at a local Jewish cultural centre. Family members and friends remembered him as “lively, dynamic, and vibrant and a very warm outgoing person who loved to help people”.

“How is it possible that a happy rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?” a family member said.

Schlanger and his wife had recently celebrated the birth of their newest son in October.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman was also among those killed, as stated by his wife.

She recounted the events before the shooting, explaining they were standing when the gunfire started. “He pushed his body up because he wished to be near me,” she recalled.

The pair were both Holocaust survivors, having experienced unspeakable terror in their childhood. They had subsequently immigrated to Australia from Eastern Europe.

Dan Elkayam

The French authorities have announced that French national Dan Elkayam is among the dead.

Officially, a senior official expressed that France shared the grief of 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 young girl, aged 10 who was rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital is among those who had died, police have confirmed.

One Israeli Citizen

An Israeli citizen was a fatality during the attack, according to multiple sources referencing the Israeli government.

Those Injured

Of the 42 people transported to hospital, a significant number are still under care, with a number in a critical state. The injured include two officers who attended the scene.

One of the injured is a member of the public who attempted to intervene to tackle one of the gunmen. Described as a local hero, he received bullet wounds but is in stable condition in hospital.

Arsen Ostrovsky

Among the injured is Arsen Ostrovsky, a public affairs professional. It has been reported he was injured and is receiving treatment in hospital.

He wrote, he recounted the scene as an “horrific scene,” but also praised the response of those who rushed to help. He said he believed it was a “miracle” he was alive.

Evan Zlatkis

Evan Zlatkis, a media director, was another casualty in the shooting. He said he listened to “a large number” of shots.

“I thought it was something less lethal, but it penetrated my own skin and into my leg,” he said. “I was hit. They bandaged me up. I’m ok.”