A tragic incident occurred at Bondi Beach, Australia, on December 14, 2025, when a shooting during a Jewish festival left at least 16 individuals dead, including Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman. The 87-year-old was fatally shot while attempting to shield his wife, Larisa Kleytman, from the gunfire unleashed by two assailants.
The Kleytmans had traveled from Matraville to celebrate Hanukkah, a festival meant for family and community gathering. According to Mrs. Kleytman, her husband was struck in the head as he tried to protect her. “I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head,” she recounted to the media.
Both Alex and Larisa Kleytman survived the Holocaust during their childhoods before immigrating to Australia in search of a better life. Their experiences were shared with JewishCare, an Australian Jewish charity, in 2023. The charity’s annual report highlighted Alex’s harrowing memories of his youth, including the struggles he faced alongside his mother and younger brother in Siberia.
Witnesses describe a scene of chaos as gunfire erupted at the event dubbed “Chanukah by the Sea.” Mrs. Kleytman recalled hearing a loud “boom boom” and seeing people collapse around her. “His body is still there and I am sitting there and don’t know what I have to do,” she expressed, grappling with the horror of the moment.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, including a 10-year-old girl and a 27-year-old French Jewish citizen. Among the assailants, Naveed Akram, 24, sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalized under police guard, while his father, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by responding officers. According to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, six licensed firearms belonging to Sajid Akram were recovered from the scene and are believed to have been used in the attack.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, but the incident has left the local community in shock. Many residents are struggling to comprehend the violence that erupted during what was meant to be a night of celebration.
Forty-two individuals, including two police officers, are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across the region. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading to this devastating act of violence. The Bondi Beach shooting serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing communities and the importance of solidarity during times of grief.
