90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Dies Nearly a Year After Bondi Beach Shooting
Bbc · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Eva Geller, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, died on Thursday evening in a Sydney hospital, nearly a year after being shot during a mass shooting at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach on December 14 . The attack, Australia's worst mass shooting in almost three decades, was carried out by father-and-son gunmen Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, who opened fire on congregants at the Nefesh Synagogue event . While Geller survived the initial attack, she required frequent hospitalization and suffered severe complications including infections and strokes before her death . Her passing raises the official death toll from the attack to 16, including a 10-year-old girl . Naveed Akram, the surviving gunman, currently faces 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one count of committing a terrorist act .
Key Points
- Eva Geller, born in Romania, escaped Nazi persecution as a child and later emigrated to Australia, where she built a family .
- Despite being told she would never walk again after being shot, Geller remarkably recovered and even attended synagogue services during the recent High Holidays .
- Police have confirmed that the Akram father and son were inspired by ISIS ideology, with Sajid killed at the scene and Naveed arrested and charged .
- New South Wales police are working with the coroner to determine whether to add a 16th murder charge in light of Geller's death .
- The December attack prompted sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech in Australia .
Why It Matters
The death of a second Holocaust survivor from this attack, nearly a year later, underscores the lasting trauma inflicted on Australia's Jewish community and highlights the ongoing legal and social repercussions of the worst mass shooting in the country's recent history . As authorities consider upgrading the charges against Naveed Akram, the case serves as a stark reminder of how terrorist-inspired violence can devastate communities long after the initial attack, with victims continuing to suffer the consequences of their injuries for months or years thereafter .
The death of a second Holocaust survivor from this attack, nearly a year later, underscores the lasting trauma inflicted on Australia's Jewish community and highlights the ongoing legal and social repercussions of the worst mass shooting in the country's recent history . As authorities consider upgrading the charges against Naveed Akram, the case serves as a stark reminder of how terrorist-inspired violence can devastate communities long after the initial attack, with victims continuing to suffer the consequences of their injuries for months or years thereafter .