Bondi Beach shooting as it happened, December 16: Gunmen inspired by Islamic State, spent four weeks in Philippines; Questions over how gun licence was granted; 'They didn't take a backwards step': Minns
WHAT WE KNOW
Australia continues to mourn those wounded in Sunday's mass shooting at Bondi Beach continue to fight for their lives in hospital.
The surviving alleged gunman as woken from his coma as police continue to probe the father and son's ties to Islamic State (IS) after two homemade flags representing the terror group were found in their car.
READ MORE: Hero husband and wife identified as first victims of Bondi terror attack
READ MORE: Matilda, 10, was enjoying Hanukkah celebrations when she was fatally shot in front of her sister
IN PICTURES: Prime Minister visits terror attack hero
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Thank you and goodnight
And that's where we'll leave our blog today.
Here is a recap of what we learnt across the day:
- Police have linked the accused father and son gunmen Naveed and Sajid Akram to ISIS for the first time after finding homemade flags and improvised explosives in a car registered to Naveed
- Australia and the Philippines are working together in the investigation after the pair went on a 28-day trip to the country last month
- Naveed has awoken from his coma and is expected to be charged
- Thousands gathered to pay tribute to the 15 people killed at Bondi, including political figures, Jewish leaders and locals
- More people have been released from hospital, with 22 continuing to receive treatment tonight
- The government and authorities have been scrutinised for their response to the emergency
We'll be back covering the Bondi Beach terror attack tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with us and make sure to take care of yourselves.
More victims discharged from hospital
Victims from the Bondi terror attack continue to be discharged from hospital, with five more people released since yesterday.
NSW Health confirmed 22 people remain in hospital, in conditions ranging from critical to stable as of 8pm today:
- One person stable at Prince of Wales Hospital
- One person critical but stable, and one patient stable at St George Hospital
- One person stable at Sydney Eye Hospital
- Two people critical and three people critical but stable at St Vincent's Hospital
- One person critical, two people critical but stable and three people stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Two people stable at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick
- Three people stable at Royal North Shore Hospital
- Two people stable at Liverpool Hospital
NSW premier meets with Jewish leaders in Bondi
Chris Minns has met with Jewish leaders from the Chabad of Bondi tonight.
Chris Minns has met with Jewish leaders from the Chabad of Bondi tonight. 9News
Sydney to be lit up for Jewish community
The City of Sydney is replacing the Christmas lights across the city with white lights to represent Chanukkah in solidarity with the Jewish community.
This includes lights at Town Hall, the Martin Place tree, Pitt Street Mall and the QVB awning.
Out of respect to the victims, there will be no light or sound show at any of the trees this week, and the planned Carols in the City program will not take place.
The regular Christmas program will resume on Saturday.
Matilda's grieving family speak at vigil
The grieving family of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of Sunday's terror attack, spoke through tears at tonight's Bondi Pavilion vigil.
Her mother broke down, saying her death was no accident. Her brother said Matilda was not alone.
"Whenever I asked Matilda if she knew that I loved her, she would immediately say 'yes'. She knew she was loved. She wasn't alone," he said.
The family embraced as they held a smiling portrait of Matilda, as claps erupted from the crowd.
Matilda's brother speaks at the vigil. Nine
Hundreds unite to light menorah at Bondi
Jewish leaders and the community have gathered to light the menorah during a public memorial at Bondi Pavilion, marking the third night of Hanukkah.
Hundreds have gathered around a growing pile of flowers and tributes for the 15 people killed in Sunday's terror attack.
Rabbi Motti Feldman speaks at a menorah lighting ceremony. AP
People embrace as they light the menorah for the third day of Hanukkah. AP
Flower tributes have grown since the terror attack on Sunday. Nine
A radio saved rabbi from being killed
Rabbi Yanky Super was a Hatzolah volunteer on duty as a medic at the Hannakuh event when he came under fire.
He was shot in the chest and back, which left his body peppered with bullet fragments.
He is recovering in hospital and cannot believe he is alive - and that's thanks to his radio, which prevented a bullet from causing fatal damage to his chest.
Rabbi Yanky Super is recovering in hospital. Nine
"God saved his life through his speaker mic," Rabbi Mendy Litzman, who rushed to his aid, said.
"If he actually got shot, that was for sure a kill shot."
Litzman, who is a Hatzolah emergency first responder, was helping Super when he saw his friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger shot on the ground.
Litzman tried to save Schlanger but he died.
"One of the hardest parts of the whole event was seeing my friend like that and having to leave and move on to the next person," Litzman said.
Philippines government confirm father-son accused terrorists spent 28 days in country
The Philippines Bureau of Immigration have confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram arrived in the Philippines together last month, on November 1, from Sydney.
They reported their final destination as Davao, a popular tourist site in the country's south.
The Bureau said the pair left the country 28 days later on a connecting flight from Davao to Manila, with Sydney as their final destination.
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, revealed she had spoken earlier with her Philippines counterpart Tess Lazaro about the accused gunmen, who are reported to have undergone a military-style training program while in the Philippines.
Husband and wife identified as first victims of terrorist attack
Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife Sofia, 61, were a Russian-Jewish couple living in Bondi and have been identified as the first victims of Sunday's mass shooting.
They were walking when they came across Sajid Akram firing early shots.
Dashcam footage showed Boris disarm him, grabbing the gun like a cricket bat and charging at him while his wife watched on.
Boris, 69, and Sofia Gurman, 61, were a Russian-Jewish couple living in Bondi. Supplied
But Akram had more than one weapon. He fired and fatally shot the husband and wife.
Their family said their actions proved the type of people they were.
"While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness," they said in a statement.
"This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others."
They were due to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary next month.
Penny Wong speaks to Philippines counterpart about accused gunmen
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken with her Philippines counterpart Tess Lazaro about the accused gunmen and the investigation into the Bondi terror attack.
The Akram father-and-son duo allegedly behind Sunday's mass shooting are accused of visiting the Philippines to undergo military-style training.
"I am grateful for Foreign Secretary Lazaro's condolences on behalf of the Philippines following the antisemitic Bondi terror attack," Wong said.
"Australia and the Philippines are strategic partners with long-standing cooperation on defence, education and regional security."
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