Bondi victims' families urge federal royal commission

Families of victims from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack have issued an open letter urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a federal royal commission into the rise of antisemitism and security failures that contributed to the incident, which killed 15 people and injured dozens on December 14.

The attack occurred during a public Chanukah celebration on the first night of the Jewish holiday at the iconic Sydney beachfront. Two suspected Islamist extremists, father Sajid Akram, 50, and son Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on the gathering. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene by police, while his son survived and faces charges. Authorities found a homemade black Islamic State flag in their vehicle. The shooting, described as Australia's deadliest terrorist attack, targeted a festival of light and joy in a space that should have been safe, according to the victims' relatives. Only two police officers were stationed at the event, despite requests from Jewish leaders for enhanced security amid increasing antisemitic incidents.

Seventeen families, representing most of those killed or injured, signed the statement two weeks after the massacre. They demanded an examination of...