BREAKING – Hanukkah horror at Bondi beach: Hungarian Holocaust survivor and man among victims
In a heart-wrenching attack on what was meant to be a joyful celebration, 82-year-old Hungarian charity volunteer and Holocaust survivor Marika Pogány lost her life when two gunmen opened fire on revellers at the Chanukah by the Seaevent on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach yesterday. Seventy-eight-year-old Tibor Weitzen was also killed after shielding his wife, sacrificing his life to save hers. He has been remembered as a true hero. The death toll has now risen to 15, including the tragic loss of a 10-year-old girl, while 42 others remain in hospital receiving treatment.
Hanukkah horror at Bondi beach
Australian police swiftly identified the attackers as father-and-son duo Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, according to the BBC. Sajid Akram, a licensed firearms owner who arrived in Australia as a student in 1998 and possessed six firearms for recreational hunting, was shot dead by police at the scene. His Australian-born son, Naveed, remains in critical condition.
Marika Pogány, a deeply respected member of the community, had volunteered for 23 years with the Meals on Wheels organisation, delivering more than 12,000 kosher meals. She was seated in the front row of the gathering when gunfire erupted.
The Times of Israel confirmed her death as part of what authorities have described as a brazen terror attack targeting Sydney’s Jewish community. In Hungary, the Jewish Community of Komárom shared a moving tribute on Facebook, recalling how Marika brightened the town each June and how Bondi Beach held a special place in her heart as her favourite destination.
According to Blikk, seventy-eight-year-old Hungarian national Tibor Weitzen was also among the victims. His grandson, Leor Amzalak, told ABC that his grandfather was “the best anyone could wish for”. Tibor made aliyah to Israel in 1988 and originally came from Ungvár (now Uzhhorod), a formerly Hungarian city in Ukraine’s westernmost Transcarpathian region.
“He loved us more than life itself,” his grandson said. Reports indicate that Tibor died while protecting his wife, who survived the attack.
A beacon of light—until darkness struck
The attack prompted swift condemnation from world leaders, Australian politicians, Hungarian government officials, and the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities. More than 1,000 people had gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea 2025 event, turning the beach into a beacon of light—until tragedy struck.
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