A victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack said “I saw children fall to the floor” as he spoke to media while smothered in his own blood. Arsen Ostrovsky was injured in the shooting and said he watched the horror unfold as he felt blood gushing down his head after being shot.
He told Sky News Australia that children and families were enjoying themselves at a festival before chaos ensured. “All of a sudden it’s absolute chaos, there’s guns, fire everywhere, people ducking, it was absolute chaos,” he said. “We didn’t know what was happening, where the gunfire was coming from, I saw blood gushing from me, I saw people hit – falling to the ground.
“My only concerns was where are my kids, where is my wife… I survived October 7, I lived in Israel the last 13 years, we came here only two weeks ago to work with the Jewish community, to fight antisemitism, to fight this bloodthirsty, ravaging hatred.
“We’ve lived through worse, we’re gonna get through this and we’re gonna get the b******* who did this.”
He relived the terrifying moments when he saw one of the gunmen. “I saw at least one gunman firing what looked like a shotgun, firing randomly in all directions,” he said. “I saw children fall to the floor, I saw elderly… it was an absolute bloodbath. Blood gushing everywhere.”
He added his family managed to get away from the horror while he was tragically caught up in it. “My children and wife are safe thank God, they managed to get away,” he said. “But I didn’t know where they were and there’s no greater fear, greater horror than not knowing where your family is. They’re okay, they’ll be okay.”
(Image: Sky News)
Twelve people were confirmed dead in the horrifying Bondi Beach terror attack. A further 29 people including children have been injured. Among the victims was Rabbi Eli Schlanger from the Chabad of Bondi. Mere hours before the tragic event, Rabbi Schlanger had been promoting the event on his Facebook page.
Rabbi Schlanger’s friend, Eliezer Tewel, shared a heartfelt tribute following the news of his death. “He was just doing his job. Showing up. Being the constant, reliable presence for his community,” he penned in a poignant post. This is about my friend who is gone. It hurts. It’s confusing.”
In an update provided on Sunday evening, police reported that the injured included a child with an arm injury, a 62-year-old woman who suffered a gunshot wound to her leg, and a man who sustained a bullet graze to his head.
Eyewitnesses allegedly heard people shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as the terrifying shooting unfolded at Bondi Beach. One of the suspected gunmen has now been identified, and the incident has been classified as a terrorist attack.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity, an Australian law enforcement official named the alleged shooter as Narveed Akram, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west. The official stated that Akram’s residence in Bonnyrigg was currently being searched by police, according to ABC.net.au.
One of the shooters was killed during the incident, while the other has been apprehended.
Disturbing footage circulating on social media shows a woman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ on the beach in the aftermath of the shooting, with onlookers intervening and seemingly urging her to stop.
Officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, but have advised people to steer clear of the area.
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