Gunmen killed a minimum of 15 folks in a mass taking pictures at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Seaside in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday. At the least 42 folks have been hospitalized.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Over 24 hours have handed since shooters attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Seaside in Sydney, Australia. With a minimum of 15 useless and dozens injured, it’s the deadliest mass taking pictures in Australia in virtually three a long time. For the most recent on this story, we’re joined now by reporter Katie Silver in Sydney. Hello, Katie.
KATIE SILVER: Hello there.
CHANG: OK. Are you able to simply catch us up on what we’ve discovered thus far since this bloodbath unfolded yesterday?
SILVER: Sure. So we perceive it was a father and son duo that carried out on the two gunmen. It is now 36 hours because it occurred Sunday night native time in Australia. So a father and son duo, Sajid Akram and Naveed. Now, we perceive that the daddy, who’s 50 years outdated and got here to Australia on a scholar visa, had six firearm licenses and that they used, it seems, these six firearms as a part of the assault. We will see within the video, primarily, them utilizing a shotgun and a looking rifle.
So, as I say, he got here on a scholar visa. He was then shot useless by the authorities. He wasn’t recognized to police, however his 24-year-old son, Naveed, who was born in Australia – we came upon he was investigated in 2019 over fears of radicalization. And we’ve since seen a video emerge of him pledging allegiance to ISIS, as I say, manner again, six years in the past. Now, he was investigated on the time, and it was dominated by Australia’s safety companies that he wasn’t seen as a reputable risk. And that now’s one thing that authorities are attempting to work out how this occurred, and so they’ve been closely criticized for this. I’ve additionally heard that they discovered two ISIS flags within the automotive.
CHANG: Simply to remind everybody, this occurred throughout a celebration marking the primary evening of Hanukkah. What are you listening to from members of the Jewish group there?
SILVER: They’re reeling and torn aside. The scenes, significantly, for instance, previous to when gunfire broke out, it was a really jovial affair. There have been a thousand folks in attendance at this occasion, Hanukkah by the Sea. I spoke yesterday to an Israeli vacationer who had been there visiting. They have been actually celebrating. It appeared like an exquisite, stunning, beautiful occasion on the seashore in Sydney. Now, absolute anger and devastation, as you’ll be able to think about.
Final evening, I used to be at a vigil, which was led by the Jewish leaders in Sydney. There was singing of conventional Jewish songs. They led the crowds in clapping. There have been 1000’s of individuals there. Additionally they sang the Australian anthem a few occasions, which I feel was to point that they’re nonetheless in solidarity with Australia, though they’re very, very offended, as you’ll be able to think about…
CHANG: Yeah.
SILVER: …As a result of they are saying that the federal government ignored warnings of antisemitism. There was a report earlier this yr that gave some suggestions that the federal government ought to comply with so as to try to scale back antisemitism in Australia. And the Jewish group say that they basically did not try this.
CHANG: Can we discuss that? How have authorities officers in Australia been responding to this mass taking pictures, significantly with the anger about how they’ve responded earlier?
SILVER: It has been a really tough state of affairs. They are saying, for instance, that there is been – they’ve condemned the assault considerably, saying there is no place for evil antisemitism. It must be stamped out. However we did see some politicians heckled and booed by the gang yesterday night on the vigil. They’ve additionally promised reform, significantly on the subject of gun management. Australia, in fact, has been the poster baby on the subject of the efficacy of gun management after which decreasing the…
CHANG: Proper.
SILVER: …Incidence of mass shootings.
CHANG: Proper.
SILVER: And now they’ve promised to reform gun management legal guidelines, as nicely. That is been an enormous a part of it, as nicely.
CHANG: That’s reporter Katie Silver in Sydney. Thanks a lot, Katie.
SILVER: Thanks for having me.
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