Flags will be flown at half-mast in memory of the victims of the December 14 shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Published on January 22, 2026
Australia is observing a national day of mourning for last month’s victims Mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi BeachWhen two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish festival, 15 people were killed.
Flags across Australia will fly at half-staff on Thursday in memory of the victims of the December 14 shooting, with a moment of silence scheduled for 7:01pm Sydney time (08:01 GMT).
Recommended stories
4 List of itemsEnd of list
Memorial services will be held at the Sydney Opera House and Bondi’s Chabad House, a Jewish community centre. Most of the 15 victims of the attack were Jewish, including a 10-year-old boy.
The theme of the memorials is “Light Will Win” and the government will install a light pole for each of the 15 victims in the capital Canberra and other cities.
The event will also honor the many people who helped during or after the December attack, including first responders and Bondi shop owners. Ahmed al-Ahmad, who fired the gun From one of the attackers.
“When we look at Bondi, we don’t just see the beach,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.
“We see it as part of our promise to the world. It is a welcoming embrace, the famous crescent of sand and water where there is room for everyone,” Albanese said in a statement.
“This is a place where nothing would break apart from the waves, but a lot did break that night. It was a tragic attack, not just on Jewish Australians, but on the Australian way of life,” he said.
Bondi is one of Australia’s most famous beaches, but the neighborhood is also historically known for its large Jewish community.
The Bondi shooting was the deadliest such attack in 30 years.
Suspect Sajid Akram (50) was shot dead by police during the Bondi Beach attack. An Indian citizen, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998. His 24-year-old son, Naveed, an Australian-born citizen who is in prison, has been charged with terrorism and 15 murders.
Police say that the duo was inspired by the group ISIL (ISIS).
This week, the Australian Parliament Passed stricter gun laws In the wake of the attack, that would include a gun buyback scheme and stricter gun license checks.
Albanese launched the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion earlier this month as part of a wider crackdown on hate crime.