Australia honours Bondi Beach attack victims as PM orders safety review

Australia on Sunday was honouring victims of a gun attack on a seaside Hanukkah celebration a week earlier, as the prime minister announced a review of the country's law enforcement and intelligence agencies.



The nation was marking a day of reflection to honour the 15 people killed and the dozens wounded in the attack by two gunmen at Sydney's Bondi Beach.



With security tight and flags at half-staff on government buildings, a minute of silence was to be held at 6:47 p.m., the time the attack began.



Authorities invited Australians to light a candle on Sunday evening, the start of the eighth and final day of the Jewish festival of lights, "as a quiet act of remembrance with family, friends or loved ones" of the victims of the attack, allegedly carried out by a father and son.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the review would probe whether federal police and intelligence agencies have the "right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe".



The authorities are investigating the attack as an act of terrorism targeting Jews. Patrols and policing across the country have been ramped up to ‌prevent further antisemitic violence. Authorities believe the gunmen were inspired by militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State.