‘Blood everywhere’: Lawyer who survived horror Bondi Beach massacre reveals he didn’t know if he would die during ‘bloodbath’

A survivor of the horrific Bondi Beach shooting has confessed he genuinely didn’t know if he was going to die when he came under fire - revealing chilling details of the aftermath of the bloodshed. Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky was at Sunday’s Chanukah By The Sea event with his family on Sunday when he came under fire by the alleged gunmen, Sajid and Naveed Akram. A photo of his bloodied face that he took during the shooting quickly became infamous. Mr Ostrovsky - the incoming head of the Australian/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council - spoke to Sky News Australia’s Sharri program on Wednesday, telling the program said he didn’t know if it would be the last message he would send his family. He said getting a call from them, knowing they were “safe”, meant the world to him. Mr Ostrovsky told host Sharri Markson he genuinely did not know if he was going to die. “I knew I was hit, I saw blood everywhere,” he said. “There was this amazing couple, and the man, he ripped off my shirt to give to me. “Next to me there was another man... bleeding out. His wife was alive. He died protecting her. “And just a few metres to the left, there was a person with... body parts strewn over.” Mr Ostrovsky called the site a “bloodbath” and said it triggered memories of the October 7 attack in Israel. He told the program he had only arrived in Australia two weeks before - his daughter asking if the move meant there would be no more “boomies” - meaning missile attacks. “I said ‘no sweetie, no more boomies, you’ll be safe now’... only to come to this,” he said. Mr Ostrovsky revealed doctors had told him his survival was a “miracle”. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg also spoke to the program, where he went into detail about his speech at a vigil for the victims. Mr Frydenberg said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese needed to ban hate groups from stoking division in Australia. “It has to stop,” he said. “We do not want people in this country who do not support democracy, equal rights for women, our liberal values of tolerance and understanding.” Mr Frydenberg reiterated he had “left the door open” for a possible return to politics - telling the program he thought the country was “leaderless”. But he did not confirm if he would definitely return to politics. NYE events scrapped after Bondi massacre The eastern Sydney council that administers Bondi Beach has scrapped New Year’s Eve events at the holiday hotspot after Sunday’s massacre. Police and mourners now occupy the spaces where tourists and locals alike once gathered at the country’s most famed beach. “Due to the current situation on the ground, Waverley Council has made the decision to cancel New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, including elrow XXL Bondi and Local’s Lawn,” a Waverley Council spokesperson said on Wednesday. The elrow XXL was set to feature HoneyLuv, Kölsch, Patrick Topping, TSHA and William Kiss, with 15,000 people expected to attend. Event promoter Fuzzy said all ticketholders had been contacted and that automatic refunds would be processed within seven days. “Our hearts are with everyone affected by the tragedy at Bondi Beach,” Fuzzy said in a statement. “What happened has deeply shaken our community and all who call this place home. “We have been working closely with Waverley Council over the past couple of days, focusing on compassion and care for Sydney’s Jewish community and all those impacted, allowing NSW Police to further progress their investigations.” The promoter also said many of its team “live in and love Bondi”. “We built these events to reflect everything Bondi stands for: community, coming together, joy, connection and inclusivity,” it said. “We know thousands from our community, Australia, and abroad were looking forward to seeing New Year’s Eve return to Bondi Beach for the first time in over a decade, but in Bondi we look out for each other, especially in moments of heartbreak. “When the time is right, we will come back together with the same spirit of care, connection and joy that defines us.” Ex-treasurer blames Albanese Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has blamed the Bondi terror attacks on Anthony Albanese in an extraordinary tirade at the Bondi memorial in Sydney’s east. On Wednesday, Mr Frydenberg, who is of Jewish heritage, claimed the Prime Minister was personally responsible for Sunday’s terrorist attack. Meanwhile, Naveed Akram, one of the accused gunmen, will only be interviewed when his medical condition is “appropriate”, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, adding: “It’s important he has appropriate cognitive ability. For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening.” Mr Frydenberg said Mr Albanese had “allowed Australia to be radicalised” and claimed Jewish-Australians had been “abandoned”. “Until you (Mr Albanese) stand here in front of these cameras and say that you and your government, hand on heart, accept personal responsibility for what has taken place,” he said. “Until you, Prime Minister, stand here on this spot and accept accountability for the failure of your government, then everything after that will mean nothing.” “Unless our governments, federal and state, take urgent, unprecedented and strong action, as night follows day, we will be back grieving the loss of innocent life in another terrorist attack in our country,” he said. “This was all too predictable. “Our governments have failed every Australian when it comes to fighting hate and anti-Semitism.” He explicitly called for Labor to take stronger action, including banning hate preachers, proscribing radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation, including Jewish history in the Australian education system, overhauling the immigration system, and calling for a royal commission into anti-Semitism. He also called for the banning of pro-Palestine protests, branding the largely peaceful demonstrations “as incubators of hate”. “And we need answers, we need solutions, we need action,” he said. “And Prime Minister, I heard you say yesterday that you are ready for the fight on guns. “Well, let me tell you, guns may have stolen the life of 15 innocent civilians, but it was radical Islamist ideology that pulled the trigger. “And if you, Prime Minister, can’t say those words, Islamist ideology, if you can’t speak them, you can’t solve them. “So, Prime Minister, you have failed us. Your government has failed us.” Mr Frydenberg also erupted over Labor’s delay in implementing the recommendations listed by anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segel in a July report. “You hand-picked a special envoy on anti-Semitism. She put together a comprehensive program that had initiatives from everything from the digital and media space to our universities and our creative arts, to hard security, to soft security,” he said. “She talks in that report about more resources for operational security. And today, we are talking about a graphic and tragic failure of operational security. “Yet, she presented her report to your government more than 150 days ago in July of this year. It has been gathering dust on your desk. “If there were ever a metaphor, if there was ever a sign, if there was ever an example, if there was ever an illustration of your failure, of your governments failure to treat the dangerous rise of anti-Semitism with the urgency and the importance that it deserves, that was it. “For 150 plus days, you had a report, and you did nothing.” Mr Albanese has emphasised Labor’s actions on hate speech laws, doxxing, and prospective gun reform in response to the criticism, however, he and senior ministers have also admitted that more needs to be done to tackle anti-Semitism. ‘Very seriously’: Labor responds to Frydenberg Labor will take Mr Frydenberg’s suggestions “very seriously” after the ex-Liberal MP brutally berated Mr Albanese and demanded he take personal accountability for the Bondi shooting. Speaking at Parliament House, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked about the criticism while holding a press conference just moments after Mr Frydenberg made his comments. “I say this also about Josh Frydenberg – we weren’t able to catch all of what he said before we came out here to spend time with you today, but we saw some of it,” Mr Chalmers said. “I have a lot of respect for Josh Frydenberg. “I think those of you know that, when we were in this parliament together, I have always taken a respectful approach to Josh’s views.” Mr Chalmers said he didn’t doubt the “intensity or the sincerity” of Mr Frydenbreg’s views. “And he, like a lot of Australians, is mourning and is grieving,” Mr Chalmers said. “And we will take suggestions from him or from other members of the community very seriously.” NSW Premier Chris Minns was asked about Mr Frydenberg’s comments at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon and said: “We moved a new criminal offence for intentionally inciting racial hatred that was heavily opposed by many in the Parliament. “I felt it was necessary to protect people in our community from that horrible racist attacks that we’ve seen in our community over the last two years. “We have introduced legislation in relation to Nazi gatherings, there’s been the move-on offences in relation to places of worship, because I believe it competed with another fundamental right you have in a multicultural community, the right to religious expression.” Young officer’s horrific injuries A police officer who has served for just four months has lost sight in one eye as a result of injuries sustained during the Bondi terror attack. Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, 22, “miraculously” survived two bullet wounds, one to his head and another to his shoulder, his family said in a statement. “Jack was taken to ICU where he was intubated and underwent multiple surgeries. Although miraculously surviving, Jack’s injuries have resulted in a loss of vision in one of his eyes and he now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead, with additional surgeries required,” the family said. “Jack is just 22 years old and has only been in the police force for four months. Even so, in the face of a violent and tragic incident, he responded with courage, instinct, and selflessness, continuing to protect and help others while injured, until he was physically no longer able to. “Jack was simply doing his job – a job he deeply loves – driven by a commitment to protect the community, even at great personal cost. “Many of his colleagues who were present on the night of the incident have visited in hospital and given testaments to Jack’s bravery during the incident, describing his devotion to his community. “They described how Jack acted, he moved toward people in need, not away from danger, and continued helping others while seriously injured. “The support from the police force and hospital staff has been unmatched and we are beyond grateful.” The family has requested privacy and thanked the wider community for their kindness and support. ‘Let’s get the facts right’ Allegra Spender has urged Australians to remain unified amid the tragic fallout of the Bondi terror attack. The Wentworth MP, whose electorate includes Bondi, posted a statement online encouraging communities to support each other, and “get the facts right”. “This was about extremism. This is not about immigration,” she said. “We would not have had the man who saved so many Australians if we had cut off, for instance, Muslim immigration, which I know that some people have argued for. “So I think we have to be really careful right now. “This is a moment that Australia can come together on our common values, where we can reinvest in making sure that our Jewish community and other communities feel welcome and safe in this country. “That is hard and important, but setting parts of the community against each other is not going to keep our country safe.” Interview with alleged shooter looms The 24-year-old along with his father Sajid Akram, 50, allegedly shot at a group of people attending a Jewish event Chanukah By The Sea at the iconic Aussie destination on Sunday night, killing 15 people. Sajid was shot dead by police, while Naveed was taken to hospital where he woke from a coma on Tuesday night. Police have spoken to Akram in hospital, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed to 2GB, but “only from a custody perspective”. “Our investigators have been waiting for the effects of medication to wear off and for him to have access to a legal adviser,” he said. “I expect that will happen this morning.” PM thanks NSW health workers Mr Albanese has thanked medical workers outside a Sydney hospital in the wake of the Bondi massacre. “On one occasion, (there was) 12 minutes between someone arriving at the emergency department here at St Vincent’s (Hospital) and being on the operating table,” he said, speaking at a hospital in Sydney’s east. “They saved lives in a traumatic experience, they responded with professionalism, with compassion and with the best of Australian values. “And today was an opportunity for myself and the Governor-General to say thank you on behalf of Australians to the doctors, the surgeons, the nurses, the pathologists, the radiologists, the people who engaged in providing assistance to people in circumstances that were incredibly traumatic.” Mr Albanese also delivered a frank warning after being asked about Labor’s actions in response to the attacks. “It is difficult, and this is something the world is dealing with,” he said. “It is, indeed, as you identify, hard to legislate against such massive hatred and people who have this perversion of Islam that leads them to support Islamic State and to have a view that somehow there is some reward for them, there is not. They are evil. “We need to make sure that we do whatever is within our powers. Now that means education. “It means as well, stamping out, calling out evil when we see it, and we’ll continue to do so, not just as a government, but as a nation as well.” ‘Of all people’: Backlash at Howard over guns Earlier, Mr Chalmers lashed John Howard over his scathing critique of the federal government’s gun reform agenda, accusing current and former politicians of trying to “diminish or downplay” the role of reforms. Mr Howard, who oversaw the government’s response to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, said moves to further strict firearms were an “attempted diversion” during a raucous visit to the Bondi Beach memorial site on Tuesday. Mr Chalmers defended the Albanese government’s response to the attack on Wednesday, stating Mr Howard “of all people, should understand how important this is”. “Frankly, in relation to Mr Howard, I don’t know why in the wake of a mass shooting, some politicians – some current and some former – are trying to diminish our efforts to tighten our gun laws,” he told ABC Radio National. The National Security Committee of Cabinet agreed this week to work towards potentially tightening gun laws, including limits on how many firearms a person can own and a renewed focus on a national firearms register. The Albanese government has, though, been accused of not doing enough to also tackle anti-Semitism in the wake of the Bondi attack that left 16 people dead, including Sajid Akram who, along his with son Naveed, allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah event on Sunday. Mr Chalmers said the government did not see the two issues – gun reform and anti-Semitism – as “an either-or”. “We’re focused on both of those things simultaneously, countering these horrifying and evil acts of anti-Semitism at the same time as we tighten our gun laws,” he said. Mr Chalmers acknowledged the Jewish community was “extremely angry”. “We understand that emotions are raw and for good reasons,” he said. “But, the government has acted on a number of the Segal report recommendations,” he continued, referencing special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal’s 2025 report. “We’ve also taken some very decisive steps to combat anti-Semitism. I mean, there’s a long list of things that we have progressed.” Mr Chalmers noted sanctions on neo-Nazi groups and a “landmark ban” on the Nazi salute as well as criminalisation of doxxing and funds for security at Jewish sites and schools. Wong tight-lipped on Philippines meeting Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has refused to reveal details of a meeting with her Philippine counterpart after it was revealed the two alleged Bondi gunmen visited the South East Asian country shortly before the Bondi terror attack. Police confirmed the alleged terrorists travelled to the Philippines in November and returned to Australia before the end of the month. Philippine immigration authorities said the two men listed the southern city of Davao as their final destination. Davao City is the largest city in Mindanao, a terrorism hotspot where ISIS-affiliated groups have been active. Senator Wong was asked by the ABC whether the pair’s travel – given one of them had previously been on an ASIO watchlist – should have been on the radar of intelligence authorities. “Well, I know it has been confirmed that the attackers travelled to the Philippines prior to this attack,” she said. “Obviously, as the NSW Police have said, their visit and why they were there, where they went, and so on is part of the active investigation,” Senator Wong said. “So, some of the matters that you’re referring to are not matters that I can comment on at this point in the investigation.” Senator Wong also confirmed she had met with her Philippine counterpart, Tess Lazaro, but declined to go into the details of the meeting. “You probably understand I can’t go into the all details of our discussion, but I can say that we, Australia and the Philippines, are longstanding partners on regional security and on related matters, and that will continue,” she said. Ms Lazaro had conveyed her “sincere condolences” to Senator Wong over the phone, the Filipino diplomat said in a statement online. The Philippines stood “firmly in solidarity” with Australia, and would continue to co-operate on security and law enforcement matters, the statement read. “We reaffirm our support for efforts that protect communities from intolerance, hatred, and violence,” she said. Push for parliament recall Coalition MPs have urged Labor to recall parliament and fast-track legislation in response to the terror attacks, while placing pressure on Mr Albanese to adopt Jillian Segel’s anti-Semitism report recommendations. On Wednesday, Jewish MP and Liberal frontbencher Julian Leeser confirmed party members were prepared to return to Canberra. “We stand ready for the parliament to be returned because we shouldn’t be waiting a single day,” he said. “We should be cracking on and implementing these measures. “The best time for action was six months ago. The next best time is today.” Earlier, Nationals leader David Littleproud told the ABC he believed parliamentarians should return to Canberra before Christmas. “There are 13 recommendations. We should, before Christmas, go back to parliament and in fact look at recommendation 9, that Jillian Segal has put around increasing the screening of those that come to this country around extremist views, including anti-Semitism.” Earlier, the Coalition announced in a statement that it had established a taskforce on anti-Semitism, extremism and counter-terrorism. It is due to meet with Ms Segal on Wednesday. The taskforce calls for the implementation of the Segal report recommendations in full, claiming the report has been “gathering dust on the Prime Minister’s desk”. Ms Segel’s recommendations have been endorsed by peak Jewish groups; however, its calls to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, engage in media monitoring, and implement punitive funding measures have sparked concerns among academics and peak bodies of silencing dissent. ASIO ‘trip-wire’ in lead-up to attack A former intelligence chief has cautioned against hindsight criticism of Australian intelligence agencies but highlighted a key detail that could have provided earlier insight for ASIO into the motivations of the Bondi attackers. The alleged gunmen’s trip to a terrorism hotspot in the Philippines – just weeks before the ISIS-inspired massacre – should have alerted authorities, given the younger man had years earlier been investigated for associations with ISIS cells in Sydney, ex-AFP superintendent David Craig told Sky News. “When they departed the country, it should have been raised as an alert and they could have been spoken to on the way back, their luggage could have (been) searched, we would know more about it and that would have been proactive,” he said. “So that was the trip-wire that I say we missed because if they were ever a concern that they were related to Islamic State, we should always know if they are leaving the country or their associates are coming here.” He cautioned against blaming ASIO failures for the attack, saying: “I think we first have to understand how these assessments are actually made. “Back in 2019, there may not have actually been a threat. I’ve been a part of these assessments and people work very hard. They know if they get it wrong, people die,” he said. ‘Radiant smile’: School remembers 10yo killed in Bondi The first funerals for the victims of the Bondi massacre will take place today, as tributes continue to pour in for the lives lost to tragedy. The school attended by the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, has broken its silence to share “beautiful memories” of their “little ray of sunshine”. “She is genuinely the most kind, caring, and compassionate young girl, who brightened everyone’s day with her radiant smile and infectious laugh,” the school said in a statement. “Matilda has an incredible gift for bringing joy to those around her.” “ … from choreographing dances on the playground to K-Pop Demon Hunters, losing her glasses that were actually on her head, to facing her fears and bravely presenting her speech in front of her classmates, Matilda has a strength and joy for life that we will always cherish and remember.” Matilda’s parents broke their silence on Tuesday night about the devastation of losing their eldest daughter. “We came here from Ukraine … and I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia. And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist,” her father Michael told the crowds at Bondi Pavilion. “So just remember – remember her name.” Up to six people killed in the attack are set to be buried in Sydney today, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram has reportedly woken from his almost 48-hour coma, while the hero who stopped him has spoken publicly for the first time about his extraordinary act. Ahmed Al Ahmed, who courageously disarmed a shooter and is recovering in hospital from gunshot wounds, spoke on Tuesday from his hospital bed. Mr al Ahmed expressed his gratitude for “the efforts of everyone”. “Through Allah, I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it,” he said. “I ask my mother, the apple of my eye, to pray for me. Pray for me, my mother. “God willing, it will be a minor injury.” Locals have described Mr al Ahmed as a “lovely man” who has always been kind and generous to his community. Bondi suspect originally from India Alleged Bondi gunman Sajid Akram was originally from the southern Indian state of Telangana, with his extended family having “no knowledge” of his radicalisation, local police say. The 50-year-old migrated to Australia in search of employment in November 1998 and had “limited contact” with his family, who live in the state’s capital, Hyderabad. “He visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents,” Telangana State Police said in a statement. “It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise.” Authorities said they had no “adverse” record of Akram before he left for Australia 27 years ago. “The family members have expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation”, the statement read. “The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana.” Victims still in hospital The death toll from the horrific terror attack remains at 15 victims, with 22 others still receiving care in hospital. Three remain in a critical condition and another three remain in a critical but stable condition. Patients continue to be discharged but some may return to hospital for further treatment. On Tuesday, Jewish community leader Edith Brutman became the latest person to be identified as a victim of the terror attack. Ms Brutman was vice president of B’nai B’rith NSW – the state’s branch of the Jewish community service organisation with outlets all over the world. A married couple in their 60s, who were killed after wrestling one of the shooters away from his gun on the side of the road, were also identified. Boris, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61, were killed during the Bondi shooting after they gave their lives in an attempt to stop 50-year-old Sajid Akram. Twelve of the 15 victims have now been identified from the massacre. The names of the dead were read out by Rabbi Yossi Friedman throughout the day on Tuesday, including French national Dan Elkayam, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Alex Kleytman, Reuven Morrison, Peter Meagher, Tibor Weitzen and Marika Pogany. Questions over police response Also on Tuesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns revealed only two police officers were on site when the two gunmen opened fire on the crowd of about 1000 people celebrating the Jewish festival at Chanukah by the Sea at Bondi. “My understanding is that there were two in the park during or at the beginning of the shooting, the assassinations. And there were police in the vicinity, so a patrol car pulled up within moments of the firing beginning,” he told host Sharri Markson. Philippine officials have also confirmed that Sajid Akram travelled there using an Indian passport before the attack. The pair arrived from Sydney on November 1 and left on November 28, an agency spokesman said. Areas in the nation’s south reportedly have high concentrations of extremists, including terror training camps. Police also revealed that Sajid Akram had held a gun licence since 2023. “He was licensed to hold a Category AB licence, and the firearms that we have seized were attached to that licence appropriately,” Commissioner Mal Lanyon said. He also revealed two ISIS flags were found in one of the vehicles at the scene.