October 7 Survivor Among Victims in Sydney's Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration Terrorist Attack

People flee to safety moments after the shooting at Bondi beach began

New Delhi:

An individual who survived the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel was among those wounded in the shooting at a Jewish religious event in Australia. Having recently relocated to Australia, the man, with his bloodied face wrapped in bandages, expressed his disbelief that such violence would occur in Australia.

Speaking to 9News, he described the incident at Sydney's Bondi Beach as a "bloodbath" and an "absolute massacre," stating, "I was here with my family, it was a Hanukkah celebration, there were hundreds of people, there were children, there were elderly, families enjoying themselves."

READ: 11 Killed In Mass Shooting At Australia's Bondi Beach During Jewish Festival

"Children, kids at a festival, playing and then all of a sudden it's absolute chaos. There's gunfire, everywhere, people ducking, it was absolute chaos. We didn't know what was happening, where the gunfire was coming from," he recounted.

The unidentified survivor revealed he had lived in Israel for 13 years and survived the October 7 attacks. He mentioned arriving in Australia just two weeks prior "to work with the Jewish community, to fight antisemitism, to fight this bloodthirsty hatred."

"We've lived through worse, we're gonna get through this, and we're going to get the bastards who did this," he declared.

READ: Video: How An Unarmed Man Took Sydney Shooter By Surprise, Saved Lives

During the shooting, his primary concern was for his wife and children, who managed to escape. "I saw at least one gunman ... firing randomly and in all directions. I saw children fall to the floor, I saw the elderly, I saw invalids, it was an absolute bloodbath."

"October 7, that's the last time I saw this. I never thought I'd see this in Australia, not in my lifetime, on Bondi Beach of all places, this iconic place," he added.

Eleven people lost their lives after two gunmen opened fire during a religious event at the beach marking the beginning of the Jewish festival Hanukkah. One of the shooters was killed in retaliatory fire. Police have classified this incident as a terrorist attack.