Thousands of Surfers and Swimmers at Bondi Beach Form Heart in Tribute to Victims of Mass Shooting at Hanukkah Event By Becca Longmire

Surfers and swimmers paid tribute to the victims of the recent terror attack at a Hanukkah event in Australia’s Bondi Beach by paddling out to sea in a show of solidarity.

On the morning of Friday, Dec. 19, thousands went into the water and stood on the shore to remember those affected by the mass shooting on Sunday, Dec. 14, which killed 15 people and left 41, including four children, hospitalized.

Images showed paddle boarders, surfers, swimmers and more in the ocean forming a ring and a heart at one point, while others watched from the beach.

The event — which took place nearly 500 feet from the scene of the shooting — was held in a bid to “spread light, love, compassion and unity,” while honoring the “lives lost, pray for those on the journey to recovery and express gratitude to our brave first responders,” per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Friday’s tribute came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a gun buyback scheme following the deadliest shooting in the country in decades.

A post on Albanese’s Facebook profile on Friday read, “Right now, there are more guns in Australia than there were during Port Arthur. We can’t allow that to continue,” referring to the mass shooting in the Australian state of Tasmania in 1996, which left 35 people dead and many more injured.

Albanese continued, “Non-citizens have no need to own a gun. And someone in suburban Sydney has no need to own six. But that’s exactly what one of the terrorists from the weekend had access to.”

Sajid Akram, 50 — one of the two suspected shooters — met the eligibility requirements for a firearms license for recreational hunting in the country, per the BBC.

The suspect, who was shot by police and died at the scene, had a “category AB licence that entitled him to have the long arms he had,” New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, according to the outlet.

Sajid had legally been in possession of six guns, the ABC reported, citing the NSW police commissioner.

Albanese wrote in Friday’s Facebook post, “We’re working with the states and territories on tough new gun laws, and together we will buy back newly banned and illegal firearms. The deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach can never be allowed to happen again.”

“Tougher gun laws aren’t the whole answer, but we will do everything it takes to keep Australians safe,” he added.

Naveed Akram, 24 — Sajid Akram’s son — was named as the other suspect in the initial stages of the investigation, according to local media cited by the BBC. 

Police said in a news release on Wednesday, “During the incident, one gunman – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police and died at the scene. The second gunman – his 24-year-old son – suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.”

A NSW Police Force spokesperson confirmed in an email to PEOPLE that Naveed was the one charged after officials confirmed a 24-year-old suspect had been charged with 59 offenses, including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder.

Police also confirmed that two officers had suffered gunshot wounds in the attack.

“Multiple officers exchanged fire with the gunmen, and two officers – a constable and probationary constable – suffered gunshot wounds,” they said in Wednesday’s release.

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A separate post confirmed that one of the officers shot was Jack Hibbert, 22, who “sustained two bullet wounds – one to his head and another to his shoulder” in the attack after only being in the police force for four months.

“Although miraculously surviving, Jack’s injuries have resulted in a loss of vision in one of his eyes and he now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead, with additional surgeries required,” police said.

Officers confirmed on Wednesday, “There are currently 20 patients continuing to receive care across several Sydney hospitals,” adding, “Those who died are still in the process of being formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87.”

Wednesday’s release confirmed that NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM had “declared the incident terror related.”