Aussie PM Orders Intelligence Review After Bondi Massacre

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ordered a review of police and national intelligence agencies following the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, Katy Watson reported for BBC News.

Albanese appeared visibly startled upon arriving at the national day of reflection in Sydney, where he was met with boos and jeers from some in the crowd. (Photo: Anthony Albanese Facebook)

“The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation,” Albanese said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

“Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”

The shooting, in which 15 people were killed after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish festival, has been declared a terrorist incident. Police said the attackers were inspired by Islamic State ideology.

A national day of reflection was held on Sunday, with a minute’s silence observed at 6:47 p.m. local time (07:47 GMT), the moment the attack began.

Albanese appeared visibly startled upon arriving at the event in Sydney, where he was met with boos and jeers from some in the crowd.

At least one person shouted “blood on your hands,” while another was tackled by police after moving toward the prime minister. Albanese was escorted to a VIP seating area as his wife, Jodie Haydon, held his arm in support.

Australia’s Jewish community has said the attack was a shock, but not a surprise, with many arguing that more could and should have been done to prevent it.