Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a confrontational moment at the Bondi Beach memorial, preceding a nationwide vigil commemorating a week since a tragic mass shooting.
As Albanese arrived, flanked by a substantial security team and accompanied by his new wife, Jodie, a man charged towards him, shouting accusations of having ‘blood on your hands.’
Police swiftly intervened, halting the man after he leaped from a brick retaining wall, and instructed him to vacate the premises. No arrests were made during the incident.
Approximately 15,000 individuals gathered near the Bondi Pavilion for the memorial, anticipating the vigil set to commence at 6.47 pm—the exact time when reports of the shooting began flooding in the previous Sunday.
On that fateful day, alleged shooter Naveed Akram, alongside his father Sajid Akram, targeted a Jewish festival celebrating Hanukkah’s opening night.
The attack resulted in the devastating loss of 15 lives, with dozens more injured and 13 still receiving treatment in hospitals.
Albanese on Friday asked everyone around Australia to observe a minute’s silence at 6.47pm on Sunday in honour of the victims.
However, the Prime Minister wasn’t popular among attendees of the vigil at Bondi Beach, where the alleged shooting unfolded, and arrived to a booing crowd.
A man was told to leave Bondi Beach after running towards Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and screaming ‘blood on your hands’
Albanese (centre) was booed as he arrived at Bondi Beach for the memorial on Sunday
People around Australia were asked to observe a minute of silence at 6.47pm on Sunday, December 21, to mark the moment police began receiving calls of a shooting at Bondi a week earlier, on December 14 (pictured, bee balloons at the memorial in honour of the shooting’s youngest victim, Matilda)
An estimated 15,000 people have arrived at the memorial near Bondi Pavilion for the vigil
A total of 15 innocent lives were lost during the attack
Chris Minns (pictured) received a standing ovation from the crowd
David Campbell performed a moving rendition of Waltzing Matilda (pictured, the parents of victim, Matilda, dancing to the performance)
Several snipers also attended the vigil to keep watch over the large crowd.
The Australian Jewish Association shared a video of the snipers, writing: ‘Anthony Albanese – what have you done to Australia?’
Earlier, the association warned Albanese he wouldn’t receive a warm welcome at the event.
‘There’s a wild debate in the Jewish community now about how to react when the Prime Minister shows his face at the Bondi memorial tonight,’ it said.
‘The debate is between booing him or everyone turning their back on him.
‘Which do you support? What trick will he pull to avoid the community’s reaction?’
Michelle Goldman, chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, lit the first candle for the vigil at Bondi Beach and started the minute’s silence.
The silence were broken by Australian Jewish musician Ben Adler who performed the national anthem.
NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) received a warm welcome to the vigil after attending the funeral of every victim
Albanese (pictured with wife, Jodie) was booed as he entered the event and when being officially welcomed
Former prime minister John Howard (pictured) had a kind reception at the event at Bondi
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley (pictured) attended the event on Sunday
The welcome shown to Minns (pictured) was in stark contrast to that offered to Albanese
Governor General Sam Mostyn (pictured) also attended the event at Bondi Beach
As the music was continued by several musicians – including a moving rendition of Waltzing Matilda by David Campbell, a montage showed images of the 15 victims and the thousands of flowers left at the scene of the massacre.
Those victims were Boris and Sofia Gurman, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Edith Brutman, Adam Smyth, Boris Tetleroyd, Marika Pogany, 10-year-old Matilda, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Reuven Morrison, Tibor Weitzen, Alexander Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, and Tania Tretiak.
The massive crowd stood as prayers were read, in Hebrew and English.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip thanked the crowd for attending ‘in solidarity with the NSW Jewish community’ and welcomed several political leaders by name.
Albanese’s name elicited boos from the crowd while NSW Premier Chris Minns received a standing ovation.
Mr Ossips added the state leader hadn’t missed the funeral of a single victim.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane received similar applause as Mr Ossip noted she had rushed to Bondi Beach on the night of the attack to help victims.
Others who were greeted kindly included former prime minister John Howard, Governor General Sam Mostyn, and Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.
TV and radio networks also took part in the minute’s silence, which Albanese described as ‘sixty seconds carved out from the noise of daily life, dedicated to 15 Australians who should be with us today’.
‘The National Day of Reflection will be observed on the final day of Chanukah, a time traditionally associated with light, faith and resilience, making the loss felt by the Jewish community even more profound,’ he said.
‘The Commonwealth and state government will also work closely with the Jewish community on arrangements for a National Day of Mourning to be held in the New Year.
‘This will allow families the time and space to lay their loved ones to rest and to support those still recovering.’
