In short:
Sixteen people were killed in the Bondi attack on 14 December, including a child, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. Wyndham City Council responded but did not describe the attack as terrorism or antisemitism and the Mayor has made no public statement.
Hanukkah Massacre Condemned
Wyndham City Council says it is “shocked by the terrible events at Bondi,” but has stopped short of describing the fatal attack as terrorism or antisemitic violence, despite the nature of the killings and the fear they have generated within Jewish communities across Australia.
The Bondi attack occurred on 14 December and has claimed 16 confirmed lives, with dozens more people injured and hospitalised.
Police have identified the two perpetrators as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was shot dead at the scene, and his son 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who is believed to have suffered serious injuries.
Among the dead are a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi, and a Holocaust survivor.
The killings took place at the start of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah and targeted Jews gathered to celebrate the occasion.
The massacre has been described by senior figures as one of the most horrific attacks in Australian history and a dark day for the nation.
In a statement issued after the attack, Wyndham City Council said:
“Wyndham City is shocked by the terrible events at Bondi yesterday. In a community as proudly diverse as ours, we feel deeply any acts of violence based on division. Our thoughts are with the families of those impacted. We all deserve to feel safe in our communities and everyone should be free to practice their faith and culture without fear of violence or hatred.”
The statement added that “Wyndham is flying its flags at half-mast today to honour the victims of this tragic event.”
However, the statement did not describe the killings as terrorism, racism or antisemitism, nor did it explicitly reference the Jewish community, despite the attack occurring during Hanukkah and targeting Jewish people.
The Prime Minister, NSW Police and ASIO have characterised the massacre as an act of terrorism.
This sits in contrast to Council’s past public language, where acts of religious vilification have been characterised as racist.
Many members of the Wyndham community have expressed disappointment with what they describe as ambiguous wording, arguing it does not clearly acknowledge the nature of the attack or the specific fear now being felt within Jewish communities.
By comparison, national leaders, faith organisations and law enforcement moved quickly to respond. The Australian National Imams Council condemned the attack in a public statement issued the same night.
It has also been confirmed Muslim Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, risked his life to try and stop one of the gunmen.
Victoria Police immediately announced it would bolster security and support for Jewish organisations and communities across the state.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Naveed Akram first came to the attention of ASIO in October 2019 and was under investigation for a period of six months, before authorities assessed that he posed no ongoing threat.
Wyndham TV sought clarification from Council regarding its local response, given Council’s stated role in supporting community safety and social cohesion following serious incidents.
Questions were put to Council asking whether Mayor Josh Gilligan intended to issue a public statement acknowledging the Bondi killings and whether any statement would explicitly reassure Wyndham’s Jewish community that they are supported and valued.
Wyndham TV also asked Council to outline its reasons if no public statement was planned, or to provide a statement if one was being prepared.
No response was provided and the Mayor has made no public statement.
