World
Victims Killed in Bondi Beach Mass Shooting Identified
Authorities and community leaders have begun publicly identifying the victims of Sunday’s deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where gunmen opened fire on the “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration.
What was meant to be a gathering to mark the beginning of Hanukkah turned into a scene of terror, claiming 15 innocent lives and injuring many others.
Among those confirmed deceased are:
- Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41 – Assistant rabbi of Chabad of Bondi, remembered as a devoted husband and father of five. He was widely known for his warmth, courage, and commitment to strengthening Jewish life and identity. He is survived by his wife and children.
- Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin, 53 – A Chabad emissary and secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, regarded as a quiet but steadfast pillar of Jewish education and community service.
- Alex Kleytman, 87 – A Ukrainian Holocaust survivor who died while shielding his wife of 57 years as gunfire erupted through the crowd.
- Dan Elkayam, 27 – A recent immigrant from France, described by friends as an energetic young professional and passionate traveler, whose life was cut short while celebrating with his community.
- Reuven Morrison, 62 – A generous supporter of Jewish communal life who discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney. Witnesses say he attempted to protect others by confronting the attackers unarmed, sacrificing his life in the process.
- Matilda Britvan, 10 – A joyful and bright child whose life was taken as she attended the celebration with her family, symbolizing the profound loss of innocence in the attack.
- Tibor Weitzen, 78 – A beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, remembered for his kindness and efforts to protect others during the chaos.
- Peter Meagher, 61 – A retired police officer and community volunteer who was working as a photographer at the event when he was killed.
- Marika Pogany, 82 – A grandmother honored for decades of volunteer service, including delivering thousands of kosher meals to those in need.
- Boris Gurman, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61 – A Russian-Jewish couple married for 34 years and longtime residents of North Bondi. Family members described them as brave and selfless. Footage shows the couple running toward danger and attempting to wrestle a rifle away from one of the attackers, actions believed to have saved numerous lives. They were later fatally shot.
Officials say additional victims may be identified as the investigation continues and as families are formally notified.
Police have identified the two alleged attackers as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24.
Authorities confirmed the gunmen were father and son. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigators reported that the older suspect legally possessed a firearms license for recreational hunting.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of terrorism and announced plans to push for stricter gun laws in response.
Video circulating online appears to show two men dressed in black firing long guns from an elevated footbridge behind the surf club, as beachgoers fled in panic.
This remains a developing story.
The names released reflect those victims whose identities have been confirmed publicly to date.
They are shared with care and respect, to honor their lives and to acknowledge the profound human cost of this attack.
May their memories be a blessing.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.