‘I never thought I would see this in Australia’: Survivor recounts attack

“I’d never thought I would see this in Australia, not in my lifetime,” said Arsen Ostrovsky, who survived the mass shooting at a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach that claimed at least 11 lives.

Ostrovsky, who was with his family at the Chanukah by the Sea event when gunmen opened fire around 6.40pm on Sunday, described scenes of absolute chaos.

“There were hundreds of people, there were children, there were elderly, families enjoying themselves, children, kids at a festival playing, and then all of a sudden, it’s absolute chaos. There’s gunfire everywhere, people ducking,” Ostrovsky, the incoming head of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), told Channel 9.

“We didn’t know what was happening, where the gunfire was coming from. I saw blood gushing from me. I saw people hit, so people fall to the ground. My only concern was, where are my kids? Where are my kids? Where’s my wife? Where’s my family?”

Ostrovsky, who was living in Israel at the time of the October 7, 2023 attacks and has been in Australia for only two weeks, said he saw at least one gunman firing what looked like a shotgun randomly in all directions.

“I saw children falling to the floor, I saw elderly. I saw invalids. I saw people just it was an absolute bloodbath, blood gushing everywhere,” he said.

“October 7. That’s the last time I saw this. I’d never thought I would see this in Australia, not in my lifetime, on Bondi Beach. On Bondi Beach, of all places, this iconic place.”

Ostrovsky said his wife and children managed to escape safely, but he did not know their whereabouts during the attack.

“There’s no greater no greater fear, no greater horror, not knowing where your family is,” he said.

“You know, October 7, that’s the last time I saw this. I’d never thought I would see this in Australia, not in my lifetime, on Bondi Beach.”

Rabbi Eli Schlanger from Chabad of Bondi, has been identified as one of the victims killed in the attack.

Multiple people were shot after gunmen targeted the Chanukah event and a nearby Bar Mitzvah celebration. Police have confirmed multiple shooters were involved, suggesting an organised terror attack.

Video footage captured at least two gunmen positioned on a footbridge linking Campbell Parade to Bondi Pavilion, firing into the crowd below.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry director of media Evan Zlatkis was wounded in the attack, telling The Daily Telegraph he heard “dozens and dozens” of gunshots.

“It’s the worst situation that I have ever seen,” Zlatkis said from Bondi Beach. “I’ve been shot myself. They bandaged me up. I’m ok.”

Two men have been detained, with a shotgun and multiple casings visible on the footbridge where police arrested the suspects.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin described the annual event as traditionally the “jewel in the crown” of the Jewish calendar.

“It’s a family event, a beautiful event every year,” Ryvchin said. “If this is what we think it is, it is our worst fear realised.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes as “shocking and distressing”, saying police and emergency responders were working to save lives.