The tragedy has sparked a national conversation about antisemitism in Australia, as ITV News’ Joshua Dawe reports
Hundreds of people have gathered in Sydney for the funeral of a ten-year-old girl killed in a mass shooting on Bondi Beach last week.
Mourners carried balloons shaped as bumblebees and bouquets in memory of Matilda, who was among 15 people killed in the terror attack, which targeted Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah.
Police have named the suspects as Sajid Akram, 50, who was killed by police at the scene, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, who survived and has been charged with 59 offences.
Matilda’s parents arrived in Australia from Ukraine. The girl, whose second name is being withheld at the request of her family, was at a petting zoo taking place during Sunday’s event on Bondi when she was shot.
At her funeral, a rabbi read a tribute from teachers at the ten-year-old’s school, who described her as “our little ray of sunshine”.
Matilda, who won a national literacy prize two days before she died, “had an incredible gift to bring joy to those around her,” her school’s tribute said.
The funeral of London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger took place on Wednesday.
Father-of-five Mr Schlanger, 41, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and his funeral service took place at Chabad of Bondi, where he was assistant rabbi.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a series of new laws to crack down on those who “spread hate”.
The proposed measures include increased penalties for promoting violence and the creation of a new aggravated hate-speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote violence.
Albanese also announced plans for the development of a regime to list organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech that promotes violence or racial hatred.
He said officials would have greater powers to reject or cancel visas “for those who spread hate and division in this country, or would do so if they were allowed to come here”.
He added: “It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more.”
In the aftermath of the attack, the state government of New South Wales is also considering introducing tougher gun-control measures in the wake of the attack.
Naveed Akram remains under armed guard in hospital, having awoke from his coma on Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators are continuing to probe the suspected gunmen’s links in Australia and their travel to the Philippines before the attack, said Krissy Barrett, the country’s police chief.
Authorities earlier said that Naveed Akram was investigated for six months by Australia’s security services in 2019.
His father Sajid was granted a gun license in 2023, and he obtained the guns used in the attack legally.
On Thursday, NSW Health confirmed 16 people were still receiving care in the aftermath of the attack.
Two people remain in a critical condition, while three people have been listed as “critical but stable”.
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