Australia to hold national minute of silence, candle lighting to mark week since Bondi terror attack

Millions of Australians will light candles and observe a minute of silence tomorrow, a week after a pair of gunmen committed a terror attack targeting a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.

A father and son are accused of targeting the family-thronged Hanukkah festival.

Exactly a week after the first reports of gunfire at 6:47 p.m. (9:47 a.m. Israel time), Australians will fall silent for a minute on a national day of reflection with the theme “light over darkness.”

Flags will fly at half-mast, and people are being asked to light a candle in their windows to honor the victims and stand by the Jewish community, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says on the eve of the memorial.

“Sixty seconds carved out from the noise of daily life, dedicated to 15 Australians who should be with us today,” says the prime minister, who will join commemorations at Bondi Beach.

“It will be a moment of pause to reflect and affirm that hatred and violence will never define us as Australians.”

Federal and state authorities are also in talks with Jewish community leaders about establishing a permanent memorial at Bondi Beach, as well as holding a national day of mourning in the new year.