Crowds gathered at a London vigil Sunday to remember those killed in a mass shooting during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Australia. Police in England and Scotland have increased their visibility around Jewish communities as Hanukkah celebrations begin.
Bondi Beach Shooting
At least 16 people were killed during the attack in Bondi, officials said, adding that it was targeted at members of the Jewish community. It is unclear if the death toll includes one of the gunmen who was killed at the scene.
London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among those killed, his family confirmed. The 41-year-old father of five was described as a “caring, vivacious, energetic, outgoing guy who loved people” by his cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis.
Lewis urged people to “spread light” by doing charitable acts in Rabbi Schlanger’s name, stating, “Every human being on earth has a positive way to contribute to making the world a better place, and we just have to keep spreading light.”
Vigils Held in London
Around 100 people gathered outside the Australian High Commission in central London Sunday evening for a vigil. Attendees waved British and Israeli flags, and some held signs reading: “Stop the Hate.”
Rabbi Yisroel Lew of Marleybone lit a menorah at the vigil, saying, “After hearing what happened this morning, the first thought was: how can we bring more light?” He encouraged attendees to “Don’t be afraid and celebrate Hanukkah.”
A large menorah was also lit in Trafalgar Square to mark the first day of Hanukkah.
Government and Community Response
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, lit a menorah at Number 10 Downing Street. Lady Starmer is Jewish, and the couple often marks the beginning of Shabbat on Friday nights.
Sunak stated on social media, “Our thoughts and prayers are with those murdered in the terrorist attack on Bondi beach today, their loved ones and the whole Jewish community. Light will always win over darkness.”
The UK’s Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) called on police and the government to protect Hanukkah events, saying, “We must not let hatred extinguish the festival of light.” The JLC stated it was “devastated and angered that in Sydney, Jews appear to have been targeted once again for being Jewish.”
The JLC also referenced a recent attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, where two people were killed.
Starmer described the Bondi attack as “sickening” and said the government was working with the Community Security Trust (CST) on policing Hanukkah events. Police Scotland announced additional patrols around synagogues and Jewish venues, and were “actively communicating with faith leaders.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the Metropolitan Police would increase its visibility in Jewish communities. The police force confirmed this, adding that there was “no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London.”
Statements from Royal Family and Religious Leaders
King Charles said he was “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack” and that his and Queen Camilla’s “hearts go out to everyone who has been affected so dreadfully.” He added that the light of Hanukkah “will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales also issued a statement, saying their “thoughts are with every Australian today” and they “stand with the Jewish community in grief.”
The UK’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said the Jewish community will “rebuild with tenacity.” He stated, “As we kindle our first Chanukah lights this evening, we hold the victims of the unspeakable atrocity in Sydney in our hearts and in our prayers.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he was on his way to a Hanukkah event which “should be a celebration but instead our community is once again mourning.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it had offered its support to its Australian partners and was in touch with the government to discuss the UK response, adding that the challenges of terrorism and antisemitism are “shared, international” and require “concerted and determined action.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has advised any British people caught up in the shooting to contact the Sydney consulate for support.
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