by Shira Miller

VINNEWS – On Sunday, two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. At least 15 people were killed in what police called a terrorist attack. The information in this article comes from witness stories and various videos.

What Happened

On Sunday, two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. At least 15 people were killed and 42 others were injured in what police called a terrorist attack. Eleven of the injured are in serious condition, including two police officers. The information in this article comes from witness stories and videos that The New York Times checked and confirmed.

How the Attack Started

The two attackers arrived in a small silver car and parked it near a footbridge. As soon as they got out of the car, they started shooting at people nearby. A witness who tried to help the victims said that at least two people were killed in the parking lot area.

Shooting from the Bridge

The gunmen then walked up onto the footbridge, carrying three long guns. From this high position, they could see the crowd below in the park. Hundreds of people had gathered on the lawn for a free Hanukkah celebration with donuts and music. The attackers opened fire on the crowd from the bridge.

One Gunman Comes Down

After about one minute of shooting, one of the gunmen—the one wearing white pants—climbed down from the bridge. He kept shooting as he walked toward the people at the Hanukkah event.

Meanwhile, the other gunman stayed on the bridge. He wore black pants and continued firing at the crowd. When some beachgoers yelled and swore at him, he waved them away, telling them to leave.

A Brave Bystander Fights Back

A man who had been hiding between parked cars saw the gunman in white pants getting closer to the celebration. In a video of the attack, this man can be seen running toward the shooter. He tackled the gunman and wrestled the rifle away from him. The brave man then pointed the gun at the attacker, who ran back toward the bridge.

Police Arrive

Soon after this, police arrived and started shooting at the attackers. Videos show the gunmen ducking to avoid the police bullets. The man in white pants was hit and fell down.

The man in black pants kept shooting at police for about another minute. He fired from both sides of the bridge before he was also shot.

The Outcome

One of the gunmen was killed. The other was wounded and taken into police custody.

“He’s down, he’s down,” a witness yelled in a video that captured most of the attack.

The Aftermath

In the area where the Hanukkah celebration had been held, several victims lay on the ground. Witnesses described a heartbreaking scene. Regular people, security guards from the event, and lifeguards all worked together to give CPR to the injured. Ambulances rushed to carry away those who had been killed or hurt.

The Victims

So far, authorities have released the names of seven of the 15 people who were killed:

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, age 41, was a Chabad rabbi in Sydney. He helped organize the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.

Alex Kleytman, age 87, was a Holocaust survivor. His wife said he was killed while trying to protect her.

Tibor Weizmann was also shot while protecting his wife, who survived the attack.

Dan Elkayim, age 27, was a French-Jewish man who had moved to Sydney about a year ago.

Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitan was also a Chabad rabbi.

Reuben Morrison, age 62, was originally from the Soviet Union and was a member of the Chabad community in Australia.

Marika Pogany, age 82.

Matilda, age 10. Her family asked that her last name not be made public.

Security Warnings

After the attack, Israel’s National Security Headquarters sent out a warning to Jewish people around the world. They said that after events like this, other people who support terrorism sometimes try to copy what happened.

The organization told people to be careful by staying away from large public gatherings that don’t have security, especially events at synagogues, Chabad houses, and Hanukkah parties. They also said people should pay close attention to their surroundings near Jewish or Israeli places, and report anything unusual to police.