Bondi terror attack updates: vigil to observe minute’s silence at 6.47pm to mark one week since shooting; armed police at beach ‘safeguarding the space’

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Intelligence chief says he’ll cooperate with any inquiry

Asio boss Mike Burgess has offered full cooperation into the review of security agencies announced by prime minister Anthony Albanese today.

He says in a statement the review will allow Asio to clear up some false statements circulating since the Bondi attacks, and give the public confidence.

Immediately after the Bondi terrorist attack, I instigated an internal review of our decision-making processes relevant to the case and our functions under law. The review will be shared with our Minister and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, and the findings made public.

If Asio is found to have made mistakes, we will own them and we will learn from them.

As I have said many times, Asio is not all seeing and all knowing.

Tragically, in this case we did not know about the attack before it happened. That is a matter of grave regret for me and my officers. It weighs on us heavily.

But that does not necessarily mean there was an intelligence failure or that my officers made mistakes.

I welcome scrutiny and embrace accountability, but some of the recent criticisms of Asio have been unfounded.

The review provides an opportunity for us to refute claims such as we failed to pass on relevant intelligence, defunded and deprioritised counter-terrorism, and “purged” our experienced counter-terrorism officers. None of these claims are true.

Asio’s officers are highly trained, highly capable and highly motivated. I back them 100%.

Rabbi says ‘all the faith communities are coming together’

Rabbi Eli Feldman has just been speaking on ABC. He said there has been an outpouring of support.

Feldman:

The support has been very touching and very much appreciated on the leadership level. We had leaders, political leaders and religious leaders have come over the past week to show their support and in solidarity. And you know, I was here last week with the archbishop, the Anglican archbishop, the Greek Orthodox archbishop.

I’ve got calls from Preston Mosque. I’ve got calls today from Rochedale Mosque. They’re doing special prayers in the mosque today in solidarity with the Jewish community. So all the faith communities are coming together in their support.

Australians urged to observe minute's silence at 6.47pm

Thousands of people are expected to gather in Sydney’s east this evening to mark one week since the Bondi Beach terror attack. It is one of several vigils planned across the country this evening.

Australians are also invited to observe a nationwide minute’s silence at 6.47pm.

Coalition calls for royal commission into intelligence agencies and antisemitism in Australia

The shadow home affairs spokesperson, Jonno Duniam, has called for a royal commission into intelligence agencies.

Duniam:

We should be having a full commonwealth royal commission into every element of not only intelligence and security agencies and their roles in protecting Australia and finding ways to prevent this from happening ever again, but all elements of government decision making in all states and territories and, of course, how we can get to the bottom of the rise of antisemitism in this country …

I think it is important to have a very good hard look at intelligence and national security agencies, including the decision by the government to resource, or not resource, these agencies adequately. As we’ve already learned over the course of the last week, the AFP have made it very clear through their staff association to the government that they don’t have the resources to be able to effectively monitor people of interest and to ensure that Australians can be protected. That is alarming.

Jewish community to hold vigil and commemoration at Bondi beach tonight

The Jewish community of NSW will hold a vigil and commemoration for victims and survivors of last week’s terror attack at Bondi beach this evening.

There will be addresses from dignitaries and religious leaders, and musical performances.

We have a picture of the poster here:

Hello everyone, this is Cait Kelly and I will be with you through the evening.

A few images from the rally Barnaby Joyce addressed on Sunday afternoon:

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce appears at anti-immigration rally

Joyce has spoken at an anti-immigration rally in central Sydney, telling people that he is “a symbol of resolve” and “a symbol to show to you that there are people in Canberra and there are people who say ‘enough, it’s enough’”.

The rally was held in response to the Bondi attack, despite police and the premier urging for it to not go ahead. Joyce, who is now a member of One Nation, said in a speech to the less than 200 attenders:

I want to recognise those of the Jewish faith and other faiths and Australians who were murdered, mass murdered, on an Australian beach on a Sunday in broad daylight, and for those who were being shot and put into hospital and pose this question, what the hell has happened to us?

The theme “resolve” came up frequently in Joyce’s speech. He told the crowd:

You can’t have moderation without resolve. You cannot say we’ll be moderate, if you don’t have the resolve to turn up, if you don’t have the resolve to say that is enough, if you don’t have the resolve to say we’re going to stop, the resolve to weed out that festering piece of rubbish that is making our nation feel like we have to have police at a demonstration like this.

Anti-immigration rally in Sydney draws small crowd

No more than 200 people have joined an anti-immigration rally in a park in central Sydney after police and the premier, Chris Minns, urged it to not go ahead.

Barnaby Joyce, who earlier this month joined One Nation, is due to speak any moment.

In a short press conference before the rally kicked off, he was asked why he hadn’t changed plans after calls for the rally to not go ahead. He said it wasn’t a rally, but a meeting, adding: “Do you see people charging around, yelling and screaming?”

There is a large police presence at the event. A number of attenders are waving Australian flags, and wearing orange One Nation T-shirts. One person holds a sign that says “Islam is incompatible with the West”.

One speaker began the rally by addressing the crowd:

There was a lot of mainstream media coverage warning you about not coming … So the fact that you are here means that you are a small group of some of the bravest Australians in this country.

She then led a chant, saying “Export Terrorists” and “Albanese has to go”.

Minns told Nine’s Today program when asked about the rally on Sunday:

Don’t do it. Don’t go ahead with it right now – people are burying their dead.

NSW Health update on patients in hospital

Earlier we brought you an update from health authorities on the people still being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in last Sunday’s attack.

As of 2pm today, according to NSW Health, there are still 13 patients being treated, at the Prince of Wales, St George, St Vincent’s, Royal Prince Alfred and Royal North Shore hospitals:

Four people are now in a critical but stable condition

Nine people are in a stable condiiton.

Memorial closed

With the morning’s events concluded, authorities have closed access to the Bondi memorial site to the public.

It will reopen from 4pm for a community memorial event and at 6.47pm, a minute of silence will be held.

Armed police presence at Bondi this evening doesn't indicate security risk: NSW police

Police – including officers holding “long-arm firearms” – will be posted to Bondi and the surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon, NSW police say.

In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, police said they wanted “to reassure the community that this does not reflect a heightened security alert.”

We know how deeply this tragedy has impacted Jewish families, friends, and the wider community who stand with them. Our priority is ensuring that everyone can come together to honour the victims and support one another without fear.

You will see more officers than usual, including some carrying long-arm firearms. While our priority is keeping the community safe, it is equally about helping people feel safe as they come together to grieve.

Tonight is about standing with the community, safeguarding the space for a respectful vigil, and ensuring everyone feels supported during this incredibly difficult time.