Two bystanders were seen confronting a gunman shortly before he carried out his terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, before they were overpowered and killed, according to authorities.
Those bystanders were later identified as Boris and Sofia Gurman.
The Jewish couple saw the gunman exit his vehicle and confronted him. Boris briefly gained the upper hand and managed to seize the attacker’s rifle. Still, the terrorist then retrieved a second weapon and opened fire, killing the couple and making them the first victims of the antisemitic massacre.
BREAKING: Boris and Sofia Gurman, 69 and 61, have been identified as the couple who heroically tried to stop the terrorist as he exited his car before the Chanukah massacre in Bondi Beach.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) December 16, 2025
The couple attempted to prevent him from opening fire. After several minutes of struggle,… pic.twitter.com/DDAzq6k3EF
"We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris and Sofia Gurman," the family said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness."
Warning Graphic Content:
💔 Boris & Sofia Gurman died in each other’s arms trying to save other people from their fate at the hands of
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) December 16, 2025
RADICAL TERRORISTS.
This could be any one of our parents or grand parents in America one day if we don’t GET THEM OUT. pic.twitter.com/i8Ib3O23Te
A dashcam video of the confrontation was obtained and verified by Reuters. The eyewitness who recorded the footage said, “You see the shooter here — he fired shots from here, shooting from here. And then look, this guy went and tackled him, the shooter, knocking him to the ground. At that point, he had already grabbed the gun,” according to a Reuters translation.
Australian authorities identified the shooters as father and son, who were out specifically to target a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including two police officers, and more than 24 were injured. The father, 50, was killed on the scene, while authorities critically injured his son. Law enforcement located an improvised explosive device in their vehicle, alongside a homemade ISIS flag.
Another bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, an Australian immigrant, wrestled a gun away from one of the shooters, saving countless lives. He was shot several times in the process and later said from his hospital bed that he does not regret his actions, despite being in severe pain.
He has already undergone one surgery and could lose his left arm.