15 Lives Stolen
Faces of Loss: Two More Chabad Figures Identified Among 15 Victims of Sydney Hanukkah Massacre
The death toll in the Sydney Hanukkah terror attack reached 15, with two more dedicated Chabad members, Rabbi Yaakov HaLevi Levitin and generous philanthropist Reuven Morrison, named among the victims, which included a 10-year-old girl.
Mourning the Chabad Community Pillars
The Jewish community in Sydney is in deep mourning as the identities of more victims from the deadliest shooting in Australia in 30 years continue to emerge. Among the latest victims named are two individuals deeply connected to Chabad, the organization that hosted the Hanukkah event targeted by the terrorists.
The Growing Toll of Terror
The horrific toll from the systematic shooting has sadly increased to 15 innocent lives murdered, with another 40 people wounded. The age range of the victims highlights the indiscriminate brutality of the attack. Among the deceased are a 10-year-old girl and the oldest victim, Alex Kleitman, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, who was reportedly killed while attempting to shield his wife.
The five victims named so far include:
Timeline and Terrorist Identity
Australian authorities have updated the timeline of the terror attack, revealing that the shooting spree lasted for minutes, transforming the celebration into a scene of carnage.
The perpetrators were identified as a father, 50, and his son, Navid Akram, 24. The father was killed by police, and the son was critically injured and arrested. Police confirmed the father had six legally licensed firearms. Authorities also found an "ISIS-style" flag and improvised explosive devices in their vehicle.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to devote every possible resource to respond to what he described as "an act of pure evil" directed against Jewish Australians. He pledged the government would stand by Australian Jews to eliminate antisemitism in all its forms, amidst global fears of inspiration attacks during Hanukkah.