A minute's silence held for Bondi victims across Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks included a poignant minute of silence and a menorah projection on the Harbour Bridge to honor the victims of the recent Bondi Beach attack, with attendees urged to show solidarity by lighting up the night with their phone torches.

Stefica Bikesh

1 January 2026 at 09:44:01

Sydney marks New Year’s Eve with a minute of silence and illuminated Harbour Bridge in tribute to victims of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack.

Hollie Adams

Organisers of Sydney's new years eve fireworks display held a minute's silence for the victims of the recent Bondi Beach attack at 11 p.m. local time (1200GMT) on Wednesday (December 31).

The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated in white, while a menorah - a symbol long used to symbolise Judaism - was projected onto its pylons.

Those attending around the harbour were encouraged to switch on their phone torches and shine them into the night sky as a symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community and those affected by the attack.

On December 14, a father and son allegedly opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people.

The attack was Australia's worst mass shooting in almost three decades, shocking the nation and prompting immediate reforms of already strict gun laws.

Police said on Tuesday (December 30) that Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, acted alone and there was "no evidence" they were part of a militant cell.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during the attack, while his son, who was also shot by police, was charged with 59 offences after waking from a days-long coma earlier this month.

Naveed Akram faces charges ranging from 15 counts of murder to terror and explosives offences.

-Stefica Bikesh/Reuters