Australia announces bravery award for heroes of Bondi Beach terror attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans on Thursday to introduce a national bravery award to recognize civilians and first responders who faced “the worst of evil” during an operation. anti-Semitic terrorist attack who left 15 dead and threw a heavy shadow during the country’s holiday season.

Albanese said he plans to establish a special honor system for those who put themselves in harm’s way to help during the attack on a seaside Hanukkah celebration, as Ahmed al-Ahmeda Syrian-Australian Muslim who disarmed one of the attackers before being injured himself.

The attackers, identified as Sajid Akram, who was killed by police during the December 14 attackand his son Naveed Akram, 24, are accused of having committed The worst massacre Australia has seen since 1996.

Speaking at a press conference after a Christmas lunch at a charitable foundation in Sydney, Albanese described a festive period defined by a stark contrast between extremist violence and the “best of humanity”.

“This Christmas is different because of the fight against terrorism and terrorist attacks motivated by ISIS and anti-Semitism,” Albanese said. “But at the same time that we have seen the worst of humanity, we have seen the courage, kindness and compassion… of those who rushed into danger.”

Acts of heroism amid tragedy

The proposed honors would recognize those nominated and recommended for bravery or meritorious awards under Australia’s current system of honors and awards for their actions during and after the attack. Officials have not yet said who would be honored.

In the days following Ahmed’s story, members of the public donated more than $1.5 million to help the 44-year-old father and store owner, who was seen on video tackling one of the gunmen from behind and snatching the rifle from his hands. He was shot several times in the left arm, apparently by the second shooter, and is expected to recover for months.

“Ahmed did a truly heroic job,” his cousin, Mohammad al Ahmed, told the Associated Press. “Without any hesitation, he tackled the terrorist and disarmed him, just to save innocent people.”

Other stories of heroism have also emerged, including acts of extraordinary bravery by victims who did not survive.

Among them, a married couple in their sixties, Boris and Sofia Gurmanwho were seen on video trying to stop the attack just before it happened. In the footage, Boris Gurman can be seen grabbing the rifle from one of the two gunmen as they unloaded several weapons from their car, which had the Islamic State flag draped on the windshield. Moments later, the Gurmans were shot.

“This sums up who Boris and Sofia were: people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others,” their family said in a statement.

Another man, 62 years old Reuven Morrisonwas shot dead while throwing bricks at one of the attackers.

“From my sources and my understanding, he was jumping the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks at the terrorist,” his daughter, Sheina Gutnick, told CBS News the day after the attack. His actions were also filmed.

Gutnick chastised the government and police for being “unprepared for this massacre, untrained for what is going to happen, untrained for what the Jewish community is telling the Australian government is inevitable”, adding to a chorus of criticism after documented increase in hate attacks targeting Jewish residents of Australia.

An American at the Bondi Beach event, Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff, ran to help a police officer who was shot, removing his own shirt to use as a tourniquet. his father told CBS News. Moments later, Lazaroff was also shot and wounded and his mentor was killed. “As I was talking to Leibel, he said, ‘I wish I could have done more,'” his father said.

Australia strengthens its gun laws

Just a day after pushing through the country’s toughest gun laws, New South Wales leader Chris Minns issued a call for national solidarity, calling on Australians to support their Jewish neighbors during what he described as a fortnight of “heartbreak and pain”.

“Everyone in Australia needs to wrap their arms around them and lift them up,” Minns told a news conference on Thursday. “I want them to know that Australians support them. We are in their corner and we will help them through this.”

THE gun reformswhich were passed by the New South Wales State Legislative Assembly on Christmas Eve, include capping individual firearm ownership at four and reclassifying high-risk weapons like pump-action firearms.

The legislation also strengthens licensing by reducing the duration of licenses to two years, limiting ownership to Australian citizens and removing the review process for license refusals.

“Gun reform alone will not solve hate or extremism, but we cannot fail to act to restrict access to guns, which could lead to more violence against our citizens,” Minns said earlier this week when introducing the proposed laws.

Other new laws will ban the public display of terrorist symbols and give police broad powers to restrict public gatherings in specific areas following terrorist incidents.

Albanese also announced plans to strengthen Australia’s already strict gun laws.