Jewish festival. Crowds massed at the iconic Sydney surf spot to remember those slain last Sunday, when father-and-son gunmen allegedly opened fire on a beachside festival marking the Jewish Hanukkah holiday. Swimmers and surfers paddled into a circle as they bobbed in the gentle morning swell, splashing water and roaring with emotion. "They slaughtered innocent victims, and today I'm swimming out there and being part of my community again to bring back the light," security consultant Jason Carr told AFP. Carr said he hesitated before going back into the water because people were still grieving.

"We're still burying bodies. But I just felt it was important," the 53-year-old said."I'm not going to let someone so evil, someone so dark, stop me from doing what I do and what I enjoy doing." Carole Schlessinger, a 58-year-old chief executive of a children's charity, said there was a "beautiful energy" at the ocean gathering. "To be together is such an important way of trying to deal with what's going on," she said. "It was really lovely to be part of it. I personally am feeling very numb. I'm feeling super angry. I'm feeling furious," she told AFP.

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed are accused of opening fire on the Jewish Hanukkah celebration in an antisemitic attack. A married couple shot and killed as they tried to stop the gunmen will be laid to rest at a Jewish funeral home later on Friday morning.

Bondi locals Boris and Sofia Gurman were among the first killed as they to wrestle 50-year-old Sajid to the ground. Dashcam footage showed retired mechanic Boris, 69, wrestling with Sajid as he tries to rip away his long-barrelled gun. (Bssnews)