Australia observes a day of mourning for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack

  Australians were asked to light candles and observe a minute's silence on Thursday (22/1) evening local time to remember the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting attack, which occurred on December 14 and targeted people celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Thursday marked a national day of mourning declared by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to commemorate the 15 victims. This is the first time Australia has observed a national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

In a statement, the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said the Australian flag should be flown at half-mast on all government buildings in Australia and overseas, and that governments and organisations were encouraged to illuminate these buildings.

Australians are invited to observe a minute's silence at 7:01 p.m. local time (3:01 p.m. WIB) to coincide with the start of the national memorial service at the Sydney Opera House and to place a candle at their door or window, the statement added.

"Today is an opportunity for us to remember and honor the 15 lives lost," Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Thursday morning.

"This is an opportunity for us as a nation to embrace the Jewish community because people are being targeted because they are Jewish Australians."