Jewish people around the world continue to mourn the loss their community suffered during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025. Fifteen people died in a horrific attack on Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia. New South Wales Police arrived a short time after the shooting began and killed 50-year-old Sajid Akram. They arrested the second suspected gunman, his son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who also was shot. The latter faces 59 charges in the Islamic state-inspired shooting, including terrorism and 15 counts of murder.
Sheina Gutnick, the daughter of 62-year-old victim Reuven Morrison, spoke out about the attack, claiming Australia is no longer a safe place for Jewish people.
Gutnick told CBS News that her father died simply because he was Jewish. The Soviet-born man felt safe in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Australia, but his daughter claims she no longer feels the same.
“From my sources and understanding, he had jumped up the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks at the terrorist,” Gutnick said.
Footage shows 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed wrestling a gun away from one of the shooters. Gutnick shared with CBS News what she thinks happened next.
“I believe after Ahmed managed to get the gun off the terrorist, my father had then gone to try and unjam the gun, to try and attempt shooting. He was screaming at the terrorist,” she told the outlet. “My dear father, Reuven Morrison was shot dead for being Jewish at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach while protecting lives, while jumping up, putting his own life at risk to save his fellow Jewish community members.”
Gutnick explained that Morrison fled the Soviet Union 50 years ago to escape religious persecution. He believed Australia was a safe place for his family.
“Australia’s not a home for Jews anymore. It can’t be. If we are shot dead while celebrating our religious festival of lights, of pride, of celebrating who we are, and if we can’t do that, Australia is not a house for us anymore. We can’t be here,” she said.
Per a release, the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team charged Akram in the brutal attack. A total of 15 people died, and 41 others, including four children, suffered injuries requiring a hospital visit. Officials believe victims range in age from 10 to 87.
Before the deadly attack, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram allegedly stayed for nearly a month at the GV Hotel in the southern Philippines, rarely leaving the room, CNN reported. An employee told the news outlet the pair had no visitors and survived on fast food during their stay in Davao. Hotel staff cleaned the room each day and reportedly saw nothing unusual.
In a world filled with billions of people, we’re bound to have differences, but killing someone based on their beliefs is never the answer. These were innocent people, and no one deserved to die.
