A woman who survived the terrorist attack during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia has accused police of failing to act decisively during the shooting and of preventing her from attempting to stop the attackers.
Speaking on Monday’s episode of The Erin Molan Show, survivor Vanessa Miller described moments of chaos and fear as a father and son opened fire on the gathering, killing at least 16 people and injuring around 40 others. One of the attackers was shot dead by police at the scene, while the other was wounded and taken into custody.
Miller said police officers appeared more focused on restraining her than confronting the attackers.
“This is where it’s just so real and so disappointing in our government. These police officers were hiding behind a car. I tried to grab one of their guns. One grabs me. He says, ‘No,’” she said.
Expressing anger at what she described as police inaction, Miller said, “These men, these police officers, they know who I am. And I hope they’re hearing this. You are weak. You could have saved so many more people’s lives. They were just standing there listening and watching this all happen, holding me back.”
She claimed only two officers were present at the scene initially.
“Two police officers. Where are the others? Not there. Nobody was there. Everyone, the public, helped. Nobody else.”
Miller also recounted being separated from her three-year-old daughter during the attack and said her child was saved by a bystander.
“My little three-year-old was saved by a pregnant woman who saw her crying and screaming, ‘Mommy, daddy,’ running around while everyone was on the floor. She’s lucky to be alive. And I know that today.”
Describing the emotional toll of the attack, Miller said the experience was deeply traumatic.
“It was so traumatic. We’re looking at celebrating Hanukkah, a festival of light. Last night we lit Hanukkah candles, and our message was encouraging people around the world to light candles for the victims that perished and for those in hospital.”
She said the attack reflected a broader failure to protect the Jewish community despite known threats.
“We’ve got to fight this antisemitism. How can we not be entitled to go to a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach and be shot at like animals—like sitting ducks?”
Miller directly criticised the Australian government, alleging prior awareness of threats.
“The government has to do more. They know there’s a threat against the Jewish people. They’ve got blood on their hands, and they know it. They will deny, deny, deny—but they know it.”
The attackers were identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, both described as being of Pakistani descent. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the two had reportedly travelled to the Philippines, where they received training prior to carrying out the attack. Police also reportedly found homemade ISIS flags inside Naveed Akram’s vehicle.
Australia introduced strict gun control laws following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, mandating the surrender of semi-automatic and certain pump-action firearms. Despite these laws, one of the attackers was reported to have used a pump-action shotgun with an extended magazine during the Bondi Beach attack.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Source: Independent Journal Review
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