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Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister, has urged for solidarity as heartfelt tributes continue to pour in at Bondi Beach in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragic mass shooting that claimed at least 16 lives.
A growing memorial of flowers has been established just behind Bondi Pavilion, mere steps from the site where the two shooters were positioned the previous evening.
Turnbull joined the mourners earlier today, paying his respects by placing flowers at the location of what he described as a “surreal” incident.
“It’s unimaginable,” he reflected. “It’s surreal to think such a thing could occur in Bondi. This place is an integral part of our lives, part of our community.”
“It’s a community known for its diversity and multiculturalism,” he added.
“I spent my whole life in and out of Bondi. So it’s just I’m still struggling to believe this happened, but it did.
“So what we have to do is respond with love and with strength, with solidarity. We have to put our arms around the Jewish community.
“We have to show them that we love them, that we’ll support them, and we’ll stand by them. No matter what happens, and you know this, this is literally the worst that you could imagine.”
A sea of abandoned personal belongings from those who ran for their life have also lined the iconic beach.
The collection of items left behind, include children’s toys, towels and deck chairs, as people fled for safety after two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach during the Hanukkah By The Sea religious celebration.
“I was in the water, and then suddenly I just see people jumping, so then I had to get out, and then I had to leave all my stuff,” a young witness told 9News.
“Then I had to quickly run.”
“We always send our children to have fun, and it was a holy day, it was Hannukkah yesterday, it’s just devastating,” another witness told 9News.
“We couldn’t sleep the whole night, especially when you send your most precious, your children.”
“It’s just traumatising, I see families broken,” another young witness told 9News.
Bondi lifeguards have collected many of the possessions and are waiting for their owners to retrieve them.
The collection of items stretches across the sand near Ramp Three of Bondi Beach.
Lifeguards have also begun taking stock of their first aid items after using large amounts of their own medical equipment, such as bandages and defibrillators, to help assist the victims of yesterday’s attack.