The family of a British-born Rabbi shot dead in the Bondi Beach terror attack has spoken out.
The death toll of the shooting has risen to 16, including a 10-year-old girl, after father-son gunmen opened fire at the popular tourist beach in Sydney on Sunday evening where a Jewish Hanukkah celebration was underway.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a father-of-five who grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, was among those killed at the Chanukah by the Sea event.
And his cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, has described the moment he received the terrible news.
He told Jewish News: ‘I left shul this morning and saw messages from my wife and sister on the family WhatsApp group. They recognised one of the names people were being asked to pray for. It quickly became clear what had happened.’
The Brighton-based rabbi explained his family was only just coming to terms with the sudden loss.
‘We are just beginning to process this,’ he said. ‘It makes no sense at all. How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?’
Rabbi Lewis added that his cousin, whose grandparents were members of Kinloss synagogue in Finchley, was ‘vivacious, optimistic and full of energy and life’.
The family of Eli Schlanger, pictured, a British-born Rabbi shot dead in the Bondi Beach terror attack, has spoken out
Rabbi Schlanger, pictured, a father-of-five who grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, was among those killed at the Chanukah by the Sea event
He said: ‘Eli loved helping people, encouraging people to do mitzvot (good deeds). He was so bubbly, almost eccentrically so.’
Speaking to Sky News, another of his cousins, Rabbi Dovid Lewis said: ‘We will respond with light. There’s a feeling of numbness, but there’s also a feeling he lived.
‘I’m not going to wallow in pity, I’m going to do something in his memory.’
Mr Schlanger and his wife Chayala welcomed their fifth child, a boy, into the world just two months ago.
Police today confirmed the Bondi Beach terrorists that killed 15 innocent people are father and son – as dramatic footage revealed the moment armed forces took the duo down.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father targeted families during a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s most famous beach.
In the footage, filmed from a drone, one of the attackers can be seen firing shots from a pedestrian footbridge before stumbling and falling to the ground after being hit by a police bullet.
One terrorist appears to be lying prone on the ground as the other continues to target innocent civilians celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west, pictured armed with a rifle at Bondi Beach. He was later arrested
This is the moment police took down the alleged terrorists after gunmen killed at least 16 people during the Hanukkah celebration
The attacker ducks below the side of the bridge throughout as he appears to reload his weapon before continuing to unleash fire having already targeted crowds of locals, holidaymakers and families.
He shoots in both directions, with one civilian just five cars away, before falling to the ground, dropping his weapon and lying on the floor.
He trades punches and kicks with a civilian before the police detain him.
Officers then swarm the bridge to arrest one of the attackers who raises his hands to surrender.
The car used by the terrorists, believed to have a flag of terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) draped on its front window, is seen in the distance on Campbell Parade on the edge of Bondi Beach with a body lying next to it.
Witnesses said two men stepped out of the vehicle on Campbell Parade, and over the course of roughly 10 minutes, the terrorists coldly fired around 50 bullets into the gathered crowd.
One of them has been identified as 24-year-old Akram from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west. He reportedly told his mother he was going on a fishing trip.
Officers working at the scene eventually flooded the footbridge and arrested one of the terrorists. The other was shot dead
Akram was shot, arrested and remains in custody, where he is being treated by emergency services.
His father, 50, was shot dead at the scene.
The death toll from the massacre rose to 16 by Monday morning local time, and includes a 10-year-old child. The oldest fatal victim is understood to be 87.
At least 16 people were killed and at least 40 people were injured as the Jewish community was taking part in a family-focused festival to celebrate the the first night of Hanukkah.
A child passed away at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. Four patients were transferred to the children’s hospital, New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gave a speech to the public following a meeting of the National Security Committee on Sunday night.
‘There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation,’ he said.
‘Let me be clear we will eradicate it. Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity, where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith.
At least 16 people were killed at Bondi Beach in one of Australia’s deadliest terror attacks
‘At this dark moment for our nation, our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage.
‘Our agencies will provide you with factual updates as quickly as possible as they continue to emerge.’
The praise for first responders has been unanimous from leaders across Australia, but some witnesses have questioned why police did not have systems in place to respond to an attack such as this far more swiftly than what unfolded, especially after the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing that took place not too far away.
It has also since been admitted by Australia’s domestic security intelligence agency, ASIO, that one of the shooters was on their radar.