The Details Known Concerning the Victims of the Bondi Beach Terrorist Incident

No fewer than 16 lives were killed and over 40 were hurt when assailants opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, an attack Australian police have called a act of terrorism.

In the latest update, officials have confirmed the number of fatalities stands at 16, which includes one of the alleged attackers. Furthermore, 42 wounded individuals were transported to medical facilities.

The victims have not yet been officially identified, but investigators think their ages are between 10 and 87 years of age.

Here are the victims who have been identified at this time.

Eli Schlanger

London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was the first to be publicly identified.

Described as a father-of-five, he served as the assistant rabbi at a local Jewish cultural centre. Relatives and acquaintances spoke of him as “vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very warm outgoing person who loved to help people”.

“How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, lose his life in this way?” a relative said.

Schlanger and his wife had recently celebrated the arrival of their newest son just a few months ago.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman was also among those killed, according to his wife.

She recounted the events leading up to the shooting, saying they had been standing together when the shooting erupted. “He shielded me because he wished to be near me,” she stated.

The couple were both survivors of the Holocaust, having faced unspeakable terror in their childhood. They had later moved to Australia from Ukraine.

Dan Elkayam

French authorities have confirmed that French man Dan Elkayam is among the dead.

Publicly, a senior official declared that France mourned with his family and loved ones, the Jewish community, and the Australian people.

“This cowardly attack is a fresh and tragic example of a disgusting rise of antisemitic hatred that we must eradicate,” the message read.

One Child

A child who was taken to the Sydney Children’s Hospital succumbed to her injuries, authorities stated.

One Israeli Citizen

A national of Israel was also killed during the attack, as per reports referencing the Israeli foreign ministry.

Those Injured

From the 42 people taken to hospitals, many remain under care, with several in a critical state. The injured include two officers who responded to the attack.

A wounded man is a bystander who rushed to the scene to confront one of the gunmen. Called a hero, he sustained bullet wounds but is expected to recover in hospital.

Arsen Ostrovsky

Among the injured is Arsen Ostrovsky, a community leader. Sources state he was injured and underwent treatment in hospital.

Communicating, he described the scene as an “utter carnage,” but also praised the response of those who rushed to help. He said he believed it was a “stroke of luck” he survived.

Evan Zlatkis

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

“Initially, I believed it was rubber bullets, but it penetrated my own skin and into my leg,” he stated. “I sustained a gunshot wound. They bandaged me up. I’m ok.”