Information Available About the Victims of the Bondi Shooting

At least 16 lives were killed and more than 40 were wounded when gunmen fired on a Hanukah event at Bondi Beach, an incident local authorities are describing as a terrorist attack.

As of the newest reports, officials have stated the number of fatalities remains at 16, encompassing one of the suspected gunmen. Furthermore, 42 wounded individuals were transported to hospital.

The deceased have not yet been publicly named, but police believe their ages are between 10 and 87 years old.

Below are the individuals who have been identified to date.

Eli Schlanger

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

Described as a father-of-five, he worked as the assistant rabbi at a local Jewish cultural centre. Relatives and acquaintances remembered him as “vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very kind and sociable person who was dedicated to assisting others”.

“How is it possible that a joyful 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 remarked.

Schlanger and his wife celebrated the arrival of their youngest child just a few months ago.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman also lost his life, as stated by his wife.

She told the events leading up to the attack, stating they were standing when the gunfire erupted. “He moved to protect me because he wanted to stay near me,” she recalled.

The pair were both survivors of the Holocaust, having endured unspeakable terror in their childhood. They had later immigrated to Australia from Ukraine.

Dan Elkayam

French foreign ministry have announced that French national Dan Elkayam is among the victims.

In a statement, the Foreign Minister said that France shared the grief of his family, the Jewish community, and the Australian people.

“This cowardly attack is a new, tragic manifestation of a revolting outpouring of antisemitic hatred that we must put a stop to,” the statement continued.

One Child

A child who was taken to the Sydney Children’s Hospital is among those who had died, authorities stated.

One Israeli Citizen

One victim from Israel was also killed during the attack, as per reports citing the Israeli foreign ministry.

Those Injured

Of the 42 people transported to hospital, a significant number remain under care, with a number in critical condition. Those hurt include two police officers who attended the scene.

One of the injured is a member of the public who attempted to intervene to confront one of the gunmen. Called a local hero, he received bullet wounds but is recovering well in hospital.

Arsen Ostrovsky

One of those wounded is Arsen Ostrovsky, a community leader. It has been reported he was injured and underwent treatment in hospital.

Communicating, he described the incident as an “absolute bloodbath,” but also praised the actions of those who rushed to help. He said he felt it was a “miracle” he was alive.

Evan Zlatkis

Evan Zlatkis, a community director, was another casualty in the shooting. He said he heard “dozens and dozens” of gunshots.

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