File photo: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Picture credit: AP)
Australia will observe a national day of reflection on Sunday (December 21), one week after the deadly Bondi Beach mass shooting that killed 15 people, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday, as he urged the country to reject “hatred and violence”.Albanese called on Australians to light candles at 6:47 pm local time, marking the exact moment the attack unfolded. “It is a moment to pause, reflect, and affirm that hatred and violence will never define who we are as Australians,” he said.Flags on New South Wales and Australian government buildings will be flown at half-staff, reported CNN.The attack, described as Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades, took place on Sunday evening during a beachside Hanukkah celebration. Authorities have said the assault was antisemitic in nature. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, are accused of carrying out the shooting. Sajid was killed in a gunfight with police, while Naveed survived and has been charged with 15 counts of murder, an act of terrorism, and multiple other offences, according to news agency AFP.Albanese said there was “something wrong with the licensing laws” that allowed Sajid Akram to legally own six long-barrelled, high-powered rifles. He announced a sweeping national gun buy-back scheme aimed at removing newly banned and illegal firearms from private ownership, reported CNN. Calling it the biggest gun buy-back since 1996, Albanese said hundreds of thousands of weapons were expected to be collected and destroyed. States and territories will handle collection and payments, while federal police will destroy the firearms.The prime minister also pledged tougher measures to combat antisemitism, including new powers to target extremist preachers and to cancel or refuse visas for people who spread hate and division. “It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge,” Albanese said.Emotional scenes played out at Bondi Beach on Friday as hundreds of locals swam into the ocean in a show of solidarity. “They slaughtered innocent victims… and being part of my community again brings back the light,” security consultant Jason Carr said, as per AFP. Others described the gathering as carrying a “beautiful energy” amid grief and anger.Meanwhile, Sydney remains on high alert. Police said they detained two carloads of men following a tip-off about a possible “violent act”, though no direct link to the Bondi attack has been established.Authorities are also investigating whether the accused were inspired by the Islamic State group, with Albanese saying intelligence agencies had identified online ISIS-linked material reinforcing that assessment.
