A man who observed the shocking attack at Bondi Beach recounted the ‘stampede’ of people trying to escape, describing it as ‘six hours’ of fear.
The tragedy resulted in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries when two gunmen targeted Jewish individuals at a Hanukkah event by Sydney’s renowned Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14.
The victims included a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, a British Rabbi, a retired police officer from New South Wales, and a French citizen.
The suspected gunmen, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, were involved in the attack. Sajid was declared dead at the location after being shot by law enforcement, while Naveed is reportedly in critical condition at a hospital.
Bondi Beach is a major tourist attraction in Australia, drawing approximately 2.64 million visitors to its half-mile stretch of golden sand in 2024.
On that Sunday, the beach area was likely crowded with both locals and tourists, and the surrounding clubs and bars make it a favored destination for backpackers.
Kian Bentley, aged 22, was working at an outdoor cinema close to Bondi Pavilion and Archer Park when the gunmen commenced their assault on those present.
Kian, originally from Stirling, Scotland, first mistook the gunfire for fireworks and decided to record a video that has since gone viral.
The video features Kian filming in selfie mode with the sound of gunshots audible nearby. He then turned the camera towards the outdoor cinema audience, who began fleeing as the situation became clear.
The decision was made not to share the footage of the gunfire due to the fatalities involved.
“Back in the UK, when people set off fireworks, I usually grab my phone and start recording immediately,” Kian explained. “I was already using my phone and instinctively hit record.”
However, once the seriousness of the situation was apparent, Kian had to ensure the safe evacuation of those at the outdoor cinema, as part of his responsibilities.
He continued: “We have emergency procedures for situations like fires, with exits located at the back. Instinctively, I opened the gates as people ran in that direction. Some tried to climb over the fence, but I managed to open the gates. It was like a stampede.”
Kian explained that he acted quickly, focusing on getting people ‘as far away from what was happening as possible’.
Most individuals, he said, ran towards the police station, where he later regrouped with his colleagues.
Although Kian did not see the alleged shooters, he described the gunfire as ‘loud’ and noted that ‘you could really feel the impact every time the noise went off’.
The incident occurred within minutes, but Kian remarked that it ‘felt like six hours’.
“Once people started running, everyone seemed to understand what was happening,” he added. “Within a minute or two, the large crowd had dispersed to safety, and numerous officers were on their way to the scene.”
Living in Bondi, Kian noted a ‘strange vibe’ in the area the following Monday morning, acknowledging the ‘big impact in the community’ due to the incident.