FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 93 - ENGLISH

74 INTERNATIONAL O n 14 December, Bondi Beach, one of the busiest areas in Sydney, became the scene of a terrorist attack of an Islamist nature during the celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish fes- tival of lights, left 15 dead and around 40 wounded. The attack occurred at dusk while more than a thousand people were participat- ing in the Chanukah by the Sea com- munity event. According to New South Wales Police, two armed men opened fire on the crowd from a nearby bridge, causing panic and forcing attendees to seek refuge on the sand and in adjacent streets. TERRORIST ATTACK IN SYDNEY LEAVES 15 DEAD AND ABOUT 40 INJURED Among those present, Ahmed Al Ahmed, a local greengrocer of Syrian origin, brave- ly confronted the attackers, attempting to disarm them and protect attendees until the police arrived. His intervention was highlighted by local authorities and me- dia as a heroic act that may have saved several lives. Authorities identified the alleged perpe- trators as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son. The older man was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son, Naveed Akram, was seriously injured and taken into custody at a hospital. Among the dead are people of various ages, in- cluding children and elderly adults, and several of the injured are minors and po- lice officers who responded to the attack. The Australian government described the incident as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community. Prime Minister An- thony Albanese condemned the attack as "an act of extreme evil" and announced increased security at public events and re- ligious celebrations, as well as measures to tighten gun control laws. The attack was condemned by internation- al governments and authorities, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who expressed his solidarity with the vic- tims and the Jewish community affected.