As helicopters circled overhead, sirens descended on her suburb, and people ran screaming down her street on December 14, Mary felt a grim sense of déjà vu. 'That was when I knew there was something seriously wrong – again,' she says, her eyes brimming with tears. Mary—who did not want to give her real name—was at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in April last year when six people were stabbed to death by a man in psychosis, a tragedy still fresh in the minds of many.
Findings from a coroner's inquest into the incident were due to be delivered this week but were delayed after gunmen unleashed a hail of bullets at a Hanukkah event. Declared a terror attack by police, 15 people lost their lives, including a 10-year-old girl. This second tragedy comes less than two years after the initial horror and has shattered the sense of safety within the community.
Bondi's tight-knit community fears the tragic events that have unfolded in their neighborhood—the first paramedic was also the first on the scene for both incidents. This deeply impacts a town known for its iconic beach scene and worldwide reputation as a safe haven.
Local leaders express the emotional aftermath, stating, 'If this can happen here at Bondi Beach, it really could happen anywhere.' The community is left navigating the rise in anti-Semitism and a sense that their collective safety has been compromised.
In the days following the shooting, the local community rallied—restaurants opened their doors to shelter people fleeing the violence, and thousands came forward to donate blood for the victims. Amid the grief, there remains a strong call for unity and resilience among the residents, as they work to move forward together without letting fear dictate their lives.
Findings from a coroner's inquest into the incident were due to be delivered this week but were delayed after gunmen unleashed a hail of bullets at a Hanukkah event. Declared a terror attack by police, 15 people lost their lives, including a 10-year-old girl. This second tragedy comes less than two years after the initial horror and has shattered the sense of safety within the community.
Bondi's tight-knit community fears the tragic events that have unfolded in their neighborhood—the first paramedic was also the first on the scene for both incidents. This deeply impacts a town known for its iconic beach scene and worldwide reputation as a safe haven.
Local leaders express the emotional aftermath, stating, 'If this can happen here at Bondi Beach, it really could happen anywhere.' The community is left navigating the rise in anti-Semitism and a sense that their collective safety has been compromised.
In the days following the shooting, the local community rallied—restaurants opened their doors to shelter people fleeing the violence, and thousands came forward to donate blood for the victims. Amid the grief, there remains a strong call for unity and resilience among the residents, as they work to move forward together without letting fear dictate their lives.
