Bondi inquiry confronts ISIS attack and antisemitism

Fifteen people were killed in the massacre at Bondi Beach on December 14, with dozens more injured. Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences after allegedly participating in an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. His father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police at the scene. The 24-year-old remains before the courts. The first hearing block of the royal commission into anti-Semitism focused on defining anti-Semitism, its prevalence in Australia and how to assess its prevalence in society and institutions. “The work

of the Royal Commission has been advanced by hearing from Jewish Australians and others about their experiences of antisemitism during hearing block 1, and we’re grateful to members of the community who are continuing to share their stories,” Commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC said. “Our focus now turns to the matters explored in the Interim Report, including the security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event and resourcing for counter-terrorism.” The next block of hearings which kicks off on Monday will look at what

was known about the alleged shooters and what was done with the intelligence, the security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event and how decisions are made in respect of firearms licence applications. Public hearings for the commission began after commissioner Virginia Bell’s interim report was published with 14 recommendations, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowing to accept all which relate to the Commonwealth. The recommendations include calls to heighten security during Jewish events, and refine counter-terror co-operation between federal and state agencies. The

Royal Commission was announced nearly four weeks after the alleged terror attack, with Mr Albanese making the call on January 8 after mounting pressure. Lived experiences Dozens of Jewish Australians have so far spoken at the inquiry, sharing their lived experiences of anti-Semitism. Fifty-six witnesses laid bare the extent of Jewish hate across the country, with one saying the community is begging a hate inquiry to be an “inflection point” to stamp out the increasing scourge of anti-Semitism. Children are among those targeted by the

hate, with school yards and sporting fields no exception, the inquiry said, with kids being told “Hitler should have finished you off”. Other children have been heckled with Nazi salutes on school excursions, with a witness known only as AAP also revealing children at their child’s school had joked about dressing up as Hitler or the Bondi shooters for Year 12 muck-up day A 13-year-old girl, who was placed into lockdown at a bat mitzvah at Bondi Pavilion on December 14 as the alleged terror

attack that killed 15 innocent people unfolded, said she still has nightmares after seeing hundreds of people running and screaming from the massacre. The girl, whose mum had to take time off work to look after her in the wake of the attack, said that “some of my friends even get scared when they hear a balloon pop” while also detailing how she tries to mask her Jewish jewellery and is constantly scared she will be subjected to anti-Semitic hate while out and about. The

commission’s final report is due to be handed down in December, a year on from the Bondi attack.

Bondi Beach inquiry, royal commission into anti-Semitism, Naveed Akram, ISIS-inspired attack, Virginia Bell, Chanukah by the Sea, antisemitism Australia, intelligence handling, firearms licence applications