Shocking
Adam Smyth is the 15th Victim of the Bondi Beach Massacre
Adam Smyth, a 50-year-old non-Jewish father of four, has been confirmed as one of the 15 victims killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack during a Hanukkah celebration. Caught in the crossfire while walking with his wife, Smyth’s death shows that antisemitic terror endangers the entire community.
Father-of-four Adam Smyth, 50, has been identified as one of the 15 victims killed in the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, during a Hanukkah celebration organized by the local Chabad community.
Smyth, who was not Jewish and not attending the "Chanukah by the Sea" event, was walking along the beach with his wife Katrina when he was caught in the crossfire.
His family released a statement via NSW Police expressing devastation at his sudden loss."We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Adam Smyth, 50, father of four children and husband to Katrina," the statement read. "Adam and Katrina were walking at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening when they found themselves in the middle of the horrific and devastating attack. We are all trying to come to terms with the senseless shooting, of which Adam was a victim."
The family described Smyth as a generous and kind person, deeply passionate about sports. His loves included English Premier League team Liverpool ("You'll Never Walk Alone"), AFL's Sydney Swans, and NRL's Manly Sea Eagles, along with his beloved pets. "Adam and Katrina were living their best lives together," they added. "He will be dearly missed and is forever irreplaceable."
The attack, declared a terrorist incident inspired by Islamic State ideology, was carried out by father-and-son gunmen Sajid Akram (50, killed by police) and Naveed Akram (24, critically injured and charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder). The shooters targeted the Jewish gathering at Archer Park near Bondi Pavilion, firing dozens of rounds from a nearby footbridge. Around 1,000 people were present for the first night of Hanukkah.Fifteen people were killed in total, with dozens injured. Most victims were from the Jewish community, including rabbis, a 10-year-old girl, and a Holocaust survivor.
Prominent Chabad figure Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz mourned Smyth on social media, stating: "Adam a good Australian, was not Jewish, but he is unequivocally a victim of antisemitic violence, murdered because hatred was unleashed against Jews. Antisemitism does not only endanger Jews... it threatens everyone."
Australian leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have condemned the attack as an act of evil antisemitism and announced measures to strengthen hate speech laws and combat radicalisation amid a reported rise in antisemitic incidents. Funerals for victims continue, with national mourning ongoing.