Bondi Beach Remembers: A Nation Reflects After Tragedy

Australia took a moment to remember the lives lost in the recent Bondi Beach shooting. The attack, which happened during a Hanukkah celebration, left 15 people dead and many others hurt. People across the country paused at 6:47 p. m. for a minute of silence, the exact time the attack began. At Bondi Beach, thousands gathered for a memorial service. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was there, but he faced some boos from the crowd. He sat on the front row, wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish cap. The prime minister did not speak at the event, but he has promised to review how well Australia's police and intelligence agencies are working together. The attack has raised questions about how well Australia is handling hate crimes. The government has already taken steps to stop hate speech and has expelled the Iranian ambassador. But some people think more needs to be done. The prime minister has also announced a plan to buy back guns, even though Australia already has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.The attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Authorities believe the gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State. Since the attack, police have increased patrols to prevent more violence. The prime minister has also promised to make hate crime laws stronger. The Bondi Beach attack is one of many antisemitic incidents in Australia since the war in Gaza started. The prime minister has spoken out against anti-immigration rallies happening in Sydney and Melbourne. He said these rallies should not happen and people should not go to them. The government of New South Wales has also promised to introduce a new law. This law would ban the display of symbols and flags of terrorist organizations. Authorities say they found Islamic State flags in the car the alleged attackers used. One of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, was killed by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, is in the hospital and has been charged with many crimes, including murder and terrorism.