What We Know About the Fatalities of the Bondi Beach Shooting

A minimum of 16 lives lost their lives and more than 40 were hurt when gunmen fired on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, an attack Australian authorities are describing as a terrorist attack.

As of the newest reports, officials have announced the death toll is 16, including one of the suspected gunmen. Moreover, 42 wounded individuals were transported to the hospital.

Those who died have not yet been officially identified, but authorities state their ages span from 10 and 87 years of age.

Here are the individuals who have been identified to date.

Eli Schlanger

London-born clergyman Eli Schlanger, 41, was initially identified.

Described as a father of five children, he was the associate rabbi at a local Jewish cultural centre. Family members and friends remembered him as “vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very kind and sociable person who loved to help people”.

“How is it possible that a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, meet his end in this way?” a family member asked.

Schlanger and his wife had recently celebrated the arrival of their youngest child in October.

Alexander Kleytman

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

She told the moments before the attack, stating they were standing when the gunfire began. “He moved to protect me because he wanted to stay near me,” she stated.

The husband and wife were both survivors of the Holocaust, having endured immense hardship in their childhood. They had later relocated to Australia from Ukraine.

Dan Elkayam

The French authorities have confirmed that French national Dan Elkayam is among the victims.

In a statement, a senior official expressed that France shared the grief of his family, the Jewish community, and the Australian people.

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

One Child

A young girl, aged 10 who was taken to the a children's hospital has been confirmed among the fatalities, according to police reports.

One Israeli Citizen

An Israeli citizen was a fatality in the incident, as per multiple sources referencing the Israeli foreign ministry.

Those Injured

Of the 42 people transported to hospitals, many remain under care, with a number in critical condition. The injured comprise two officers who attended the scene.

A casualty is a bystander who rushed to the scene to confront one of the attackers. Described as a local hero, he received gunshot wounds but is in stable condition in hospital.

Arsen Ostrovsky

One of those wounded is Arsen Ostrovsky, a human rights lawyer. Reports indicate he was hurt and underwent treatment in hospital.

Communicating, he recounted the scene as an “utter carnage,” but also praised the response of those who came to assist. He stated he believed it was a “stroke of luck” he survived.

Evan Zlatkis

Evan Zlatkis, a community director, was also injured in the shooting. He told reporters 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’ve been shot myself. I received first aid. I’m ok.”