Australia announces gun buyback scheme and reflection day after Bondi shooting

Australia will mark one week since the Bondi Beach mass shooting with a national day of "reflection", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday as he outlined plans for a sweeping gun buyback scheme.

Albanese urged Australians to light candles at 6:47pm on Sunday, December 21 – "exactly one week since the attack unfolded."

"This day is about standing with the Jewish community, wrapping our arms around them, and all Australians sharing their grief," Albanese told reporters.

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

Accept Manage my choices

One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.

Try again

"It is a moment to pause, reflect, and affirm that hatred and violence will never define who we are as Australians."

Australia was also planning a separate "national day of mourning" to be held at some point in the new year, Albanese said.

"This will allow families the time and space to lay their loved ones to rest and to support those still recovering."

Albanese also announced a nationwide gun buyback scheme to "purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms". 

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

Accept Manage my choices

One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.

Try again

He said it would be the largest gun buyback effort since 1996, when Australia cracked down on firearms in the wake of a shooting that killed 35 people at Port Arthur.

"Australia's gun laws were substantially reformed after the Port Arthur tragedy," Albanese said.

"The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets."

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed are accused of opening fire on a Jewish festival at the famed surf beach on Sunday, killing 15 people in one of Australia's deadliest mass shootings.

Sajid was killed in a gunfight with police, but his 24-year-old son Naveed survived.

The unemployed bricklayer has been charged with 15 counts of murder, an act of terrorism and dozens of other serious crimes.

Authorities believe the pair drew inspiration from the Islamic State group. Australian police are investigating whether the pair met with Islamist extremists during a visit to the Philippines weeks before the shooting.

Read more'We thought we were safe': Bondi shooting shocks Australia's Jewish community

Sydney on high alert

Sydney remains on high alert almost a week on from the shootings.

Armed police released seven men from custody Friday, a day after detaining them on a tip they may have been plotting a "violent act" at Bondi Beach.

Police said there was no established link with the alleged Bondi gunmen and "no immediate safety risk to the community".

Many hundreds returned to the ocean off Bondi Beach on Friday in another gesture to honour the dead. 

Swimmers and surfers paddled into a circle as they bobbed in the gentle morning swell, splashing water and roaring with emotion.

Ahmed al Ahmed who is credited with ‍saving lives for ​wrestling a gun from one of the alleged attackers and suffered gunshot wounds after apparently being fired on by a second perpetrator was presented with a cheque for more than $1.65 million on Friday.

More than 43,000 people worldwide contributed to the donation website used to collect the money.

Meanwhile, a married couple who were shot and killed as they tried to stop the gunmen were laid to rest at a Jewish funeral home.

Bondi locals Boris and Sofia Gurman were among the first killed as they tried to wrestle Sajid to the ground.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)