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Bondi Beach terrorist attack live updates: Boris and Sofia Gurman revealed as couple who tried to stop shooter

Ava Martin, Max Corstorphan and Amy LeeThe Nightly
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VideoAustralian newspapers dedicate their front pages to commemorate the victims of the Bondi massacre, with headlines including 'murdered', 'shattered innocence' and tributes to 10-year-old Matilda.

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Key Events

Hero couple killed trying to stop Bondi shooter named
Bondi terror suspect reportedly wakes from coma
Ten minutes of terror: Witnesses almost stopped attack, victims pleaded for help
Edith Brutman identified as a Bondi shooting victim
Family of youngest Bondi victim remember her as ‘full of joy’
New footage emerges of couple who appear to try stop Bondi gunman
‘People are dead’: Ley's blunt message telling PM to act now
Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce place flowers at Bondi
Hanson says she wants extremists ‘rounded up’
‘People want change’: Hanson, Joyce visit Bondi site
‘Inspired by ISIS’: PM reveals possible motive
‘Shot in the front’: Premier slams speculation over police response
Authorities say Philippines trip not flagged, not a failure in security
Shock gun update: Gun licence application lapsed for multiple years
NSW Police confirm gunmen went to Philippines before shooting
‘Anti-Semitic terrorist attacks will not be successful’, says Albanese
Premier flags ‘toughest’ gun laws in Australia
Howard’s chilling warning as debate erupts on gun reform
‘I’m ashamed’: Howard targets Albo, Wong’s politics in lead up to Bondi attack
Howard hopes Bondi will be ‘wake-up’ call on antisemitism
How hero cop took down Bondi gunman with 40 metre shot
‘Try harder, do better’: Howard’s message to Australia
Ambassador calls for protection for Jews, Muslims and all Australians
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia visits Bondi
‘Antisemitism was the loaded weapon': ScoMo speaks out
Albanese defends Government’s action on anti-Semitism
Millions raised for Bondi Beach victims
Bondi shooters’ trip to Philippines being investigated
Australia has ‘changed forever’: Ley
Twelve injured victims remain in critical condition
Vigils held around the world, flags at half-mast
Mourners pay respects in Bondi
Pope denounces ‘anti-Semitic violence’ of Sydney attack
‘Symbol of resilience’: Sydney Opera House lights up
Reporting LIVE

Hero couple killed trying to stop Bondi shooter named

The hero couple who tried to stop a Bondi terrorist in his tracks - before losing their own lives - have been named.

Boris and Sofia Gurman were seen in dashcam footage wrestling a gun from terrorist Sajid Akram during a violent struggle.

Tragically, they both died after the altercation.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies confirmed the identities of the couple in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris (69) and Sofia Gurman (61).

“They had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January. We were looking forward to celebrating Sofia’s 62nd birthday on Wednesday 17th of December.

Boris and Sofia Gurman.
Camera IconBoris and Sofia Gurman. Credit: Facebook

“Boris was a retired mechanic, known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues and community. Together, they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect.

“Boris and Sofia were devoted to their family and to each other. They were the heart of our family, and their absence has left an immeasurable void.

“In recent days, we have become aware of footage showing Boris, with Sofia by his side, courageously attempting to disarm an attacker in an effort to protect others. While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.

“We are deeply grateful for the love, compassion and support that has been shown to our family during this unimaginable time. From here, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve.”

VideoBondi dashcam footage shows man attempting to stop shooters.
Ava Martin

Bondi terror suspect reportedly wakes from coma

Bondi terror suspect, Naveed Akram, has reportedly woken from his coma according to multiple media outlets.

NSW Health and NSW Police have yet to confirm the reports.

He is yet to be charged over the shooting.

NSW Police previously said they expected to charge him once he woke from his coma.

Ava Martin

Bondi gunman spent month in Philippines as ‘Indian national’

The father and son allegedly behind the Bondi terror attack spent nearly the entire month of November in the Philippines, authorities in Manila confirmed Tuesday, with the father entering as an “Indian national”.

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed entered the country on November 1 with the southern province of Davao listed as their final destination.

“Sajid Akram, 50, Indian national, and Naveed Akram, 24, Australian national, arrived in the Philippines together last November 1, 2025 from Sydney, Australia,” immigration spokeswoman Dana Sandoval told AFP.

Read more.

Ten minutes of terror: Witnesses almost stopped attack, victims pleaded for help

A reconstruction of the ISIS-inspired attack reveals the massacre was almost stopped before it began and victims pleaded for police help while they watched people being slaughtered around them.

A man and woman confronted Sajid Akram on Campbell Parade, next to his car, which had an Islamic State flag draped over the windscreen.

The older man wrestled a long arm from Akram, dash-cam footage from passing cars showed. Wielding the gun like a club, he fought hand-to-hand with the heavily built 50-year-old.

The man and woman were later found dead next to the car.

What happened next was 10 minutes of terror.

​​Read more.​​

Ava Martin

Edith Brutman identified as a Bondi shooting victim

Devoted Jewish community member Edith Brutman has been named as one of the 15 innocent people killed at the Bondi Beach massacre.

Ms Brutman attended the Chanukah By the Sea event on Sunday where she was killed in the violent anti-Semitic attack.

She was the vice president of an anti-prejudice and anti-discrimination committee at the NSW branch of the international Jewish community service organisation, B’nai B’rith.

Ernie Friedlander, President of the Alfred Dreyfus Unit (ADU) at B’nai B’rith told ​The Age​ Ms Brutman was a “good, caring human being”.

Eloise Budimlich

Family of youngest Bondi victim remember her as ‘full of joy’

The family of 10-year-old Matilda, who was killed in Sunday’s horrific anti-Semitic terror attack, have spoken out at Bondi Beach.

“Just remember Matilda like a happy child,” her aunt Lina Chernykh said.

“She was just happy ... full of joy, happiness.”

Ms Chernykh said the Government needs to “think about more security for everyone”.

“Doesn’t matter what nationality, what country you’re from. We’re immigrants, you know, I can’t (say) like stop immigration,” she said.

“But just be more careful who you take in ... sharing values of peace and happiness.”

Ava Martin

Minns’ ‘graphic’ response to suggestions Bondi cops froze

A furious Chris Minns has rushed to back the actions of police officers during Sunday’s horrific Bondi Beach terror attack.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the NSW Premier interrupted NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon as he responded to a grilling on the adequacy of the police response.

“There are two officers in critical care in New South Wales hospitals at the moment. They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front,” Mr Minns said.

“I’m sorry to be graphic about it but if there is any suggestion that New South Wales police didn’t live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state it should be rejected because it is not consistent with the facts.”

Read the full story.

New footage emerges of couple who appear to try stop Bondi gunman

New footage has emerged of a couple who appeared to try to stop one of the Bondi Beach gunmen before he got to the footbridge to launch the attack on a Jewish event at Archer Park.

Dashcam footage appears to show a man wrestle and disarm terrorist Sajid Akram, 50, by a silver sedan as a woman rushes towards them. His son Naveed, 24, can’t be seen in the vision.

According to reports by The Daily Telegraph and Sky News, outlets which first published the video, the car had an ISIS flag draped over the front wind screen.

It’s understood that the couple didn’t survive the encounter.

NSW Police couldn’t provide further details to The Nightly, saying their investigation was still underway and “not all victims have been formally identified”.

VideoBondi dashcam footage shows man attempting to stop shooters.

Max Corstorphan

‘People are dead’: Ley's blunt message telling PM to act now

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has delivered a brutally blunt message to the PM: act now on antisemitism because Australians are dead.

“It is very emotional coming to Bondi. It has been a very hard few days coming here, seeing friends. I grew up around here,” Ms Ley said on Tuesday about the usually peaceful place.

“We have been calling on the government to respond to and implement the Segal report since it came down. With this report, we were told we had to wait until the Islamophobia report came down. Then we were told we had to wait for the Human Rights Commission report.

“There is white hot Anger in the Jewish community that this government hasn’t done enough. 15 people are dead, now is the time for action.

“What has been allowed to occur in this country over the last two and a half years is a delegitimisation of the place of Jewish Australians.

“I want to see them take action because people are dead, people are in hospital in a critical condition. Time for words is finished. The time for action is now.”

Jillian Segal says ‘progression’ of violence against Jewish Australians was evident

Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal says the “progression” of violence against Jewish Australians has been evident since October 7, 2023.

She highlighted previous incidents and rolling protests in the lead up to Sunday’s massacre of 15 people at a family Jewish event at Australia’s most iconic beach.

“We’ve learned that from history that words, hateful words, lead to hateful action,” she told Sky News on Tuesday.

“There is a progression. We had the rally on the forecourt of the Opera House, and then we’ve had lots of demonstrations and lots of hate. The march across… the Harbor Bridge. You can see the progression.

“I think antisemitism is a known hatred that we have not treated seriously enough as a country.

“Like other Western countries, we sort of believed that it was fine our multiculturalism would protect us, and it hasn’t.

“I am very keen to take this terrible tragedy and use it as an opportunity to say to everybody in the whole community of Australia, one consistent with the Prime Minister’s message, let’s come together.

“We have to rid our country of this scourge of this hatred. It’s an ancient hatred, and it’s been allowed to become normalised in lots of parts of our society, and we won’t have a successful, cohesive society unless we deal with it.”

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