A vigil for the victims of the Bondi Beach massacre was held in Westminster on Monday evening, on the second night of the Jewish festival Hanukkah.
The ceremony, held in Parliament Square, commemorated those killed in the tragic shooting that took place in Australia’s Bondi Beach.
Fifteen people were killed when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration. Sajid, 50, died at the scene. Naveed, 24, was allegedly on the Australian counter-terrorism radar.
The list of fatalities tragically included a holocaust survivor, a 10-year-old girl, and a British-born rabbi. Six people remain hospitalised, some in critical condition.
At the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony in Westminster, hundreds have gathered to pay their respects to the victims of this attack.
The event falls on the second night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light.
The ceremony, which was organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism and the Jewish organisation Chabad, has urged action against antisemitism, not just words.
This comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised "the need for tougher gun laws".
Speaking of the dangers of the current regulations, he said, "people's circumstances change. People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity."
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, paid tribute to the victims of the tragic incident and emphasised the importance of the ceremony.
He said, “I’m proud that London is once again hosting a large menorah in the centre of London during Chanukah.”
Sir Sadiq reiterated his commitment to tackling antisemitism. He said, “As Jewish Londoners come together to celebrate Chanukah, I want to reassure them that we will do everything in our power to keep them safe.”
He urged solidarity during this devastating event, adding: “Faced with darkness, I urge all Londoners to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters.
“We must all show allyship with our Jewish neighbours. Now more than ever, we must unite to rid our society of the evil of antisemitism, and defeat this vile form of hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.”
