What We Know Concerning the Fatalities of the Bondi Shooting

A minimum of 16 lives perished and in excess of 40 sustained injuries when attackers opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, an attack Australian police have labeled a terrorist attack.

As of the newest reports, authorities have confirmed the number of fatalities stands at 16, encompassing one of the suspected attackers. Furthermore, 42 people with injuries were admitted to the hospital.

Those who died are yet to be publicly named, but authorities state their ages are between 10 and 87 years old.

Below are the victims who have been named so far.

Eli Schlanger

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

Known as a father of five children, he was the assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi. Relatives and friends remembered him as “lively, dynamic, and vibrant and a very warm outgoing person who loved to help people”.

“How is it possible that a happy 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 asked.

Schlanger and his wife celebrated the arrival of their newest son in October.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman also lost his life, according to his wife.

She told the moments leading up to the attack, explaining they were standing when the shooting started. “He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me,” she recalled.

The husband and wife were both survivors of the Holocaust, having faced unspeakable terror in their youth. They had subsequently immigrated to Australia from Eastern Europe.

Dan Elkayam

French foreign ministry have confirmed that French national Dan Elkayam is among the dead.

Publicly, the Foreign Minister said that France shared the grief of his family and loved ones, the Jewish community, and the Australian people.

“This despicable act is a fresh and tragic example of a disgusting rise of hatred against Jews that we must eradicate,” the message read.

One Child

A child who was rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital has been confirmed among the fatalities, police have confirmed.

One Israeli Citizen

An Israeli citizen was also killed in the incident, according to multiple sources referencing the Israeli government.

Those Injured

From the 42 people taken to hospitals, a significant number remain receiving treatment, with a number in a critical state. Those hurt include two police officers who responded to the attack.

One of the injured is a bystander who rushed to the scene to confront one of the attackers. Hailed as a local hero, he sustained bullet wounds but is in stable condition 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.

In a message, he recounted the scene as an “horrific scene,” but also noted the actions of those who came to assist. He said he felt it was a “miracle” he survived.

Evan Zlatkis

Evan Zlatkis, a community director, was another casualty in the attack. He described he heard “a large number” of gunshots.

“I thought it was rubber bullets, but it’s gone into my own skin and into my leg,” he said. “I was hit. They bandaged me up. I’m ok.”