Girl, 10, Identified as Victim of Australia Terror Attack: ‘I Don’t Know How We Survive Such Grief,’ Family Member Says

A 10-year-old girl has been identified as one of the victims of the attack that unfolded during a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, over the weekend.

Matilda Poltavchenko was among 16 people killed on Sunday, Dec. 14, when two gunmen — described by police as a father and son — opened fire on a crowd gathered at Archer Park during the Chanukah by the Sea beach festival.

In a social media post, Poltavchenko’s aunt confirmed the child’s death, writing that “a great tragedy” had struck their family. She added that her niece was killed in the attack and said she could not imagine how they would endure the grief, according to News.Au.com.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has also been created for Matilda’s mother by the girl’s language teacher, Irina Goodhew, The Australian reported. In a message shared on the fundraising page, Goodhew remembered Matilda as a bright, joyful child who brought warmth to those around her, and said her memory would be carried forward by the people who loved her.

The Dec. 14 shooting occurred as families and children gathered to mark the beginning of the Jewish holiday. Authorities said the victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, according to BBC News and Sky News. At least 40 people were injured, New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Among the other victims identified so far are Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who reportedly died while protecting his wife, and Eli Schlanger, a rabbi and father of five.

A local man has also been praised for intervening during the chaos. In footage described by the Daily Mail, a bystander later identified by a family member as Ahmed al Ahmed, according to 7 NEWS, appears to wrestle one of the gunmen to the ground, take control of the weapon, and turn it away from the crowd.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the alleged shooters were a father and son, ages 50 and 24, according to BBC News and Sky News. The older man died at the scene, and the 24-year-old — identified by ABC and Sky News as Naveed Akram of Sydney — was hospitalized and remains in critical condition.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack in a press conference, calling it “an act of pure evil” and describing it as antisemitic terrorism. He said flags would be flown at half-mast nationwide and added that the country would not be divided by violence or hatred.