Kathrine Frich
Hanukkah is traditionally a time of light, joy and remembrance for Jewish families.
It marks the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the ancient Temple.
This year, celebrations in Sydney were meant to bring people together by the sea.
Instead, the first night of the holiday was shattered by gunfire, leaving a city in mourning and triggering fear that has spread far beyond the crime scene itself.
Deadly attack
Devastating scenes unfolded at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, when a mass shooting broke out during a Hanukkah gathering.
At least 15 people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, and dozens more were injured, according to authorities.
Australian police later declared the attack a terrorist incident that deliberately targeted the Jewish celebration.
CNN reported that two rabbis were among those killed, identified as Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan.
Schlanger was described as “a happy personality”, while Levitan was remembered as “a profoundly beloved and active member of the Sydney Jewish community”.
Suspects named
Police said a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son carried out the attack, opening fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 people attending the event in the Archer Park area at around 6:40pm local time.
Media reports later named the suspects as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram.
As those names circulated publicly, the consequences quickly reached someone entirely unconnected to the crime.
Case of mistaken identity
Another man named Naveed Akram, a Sydney resident of Pakistani origin, said he has been wrongly linked online to the alleged shooter.
In a video shared on the Pakistan Consulate General Sydney’s Facebook page, he said his personal photos were being taken from social media and falsely associated with the attack.
“I am going to clearly tell everyone that that is not me and I have nothing to do with that incident or with that person,” he said.
“That is a different person, and I am completely outside of this matter.”
Fear and distress
The man said the online misinformation has left him frightened for his safety.
“This issue is very serious and I’m very stressed and scared about this. I cannot even go outside safely, so I just want everyone’s help to help me stop this propaganda,” he said.
He urged the public to report accounts spreading false claims linking him to the shooting.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack and said the government would consider tightening gun laws.
“The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws,” he said.
Sources: CNN, Australian police statements, Unilad.
