Night of light for Beach slain

Nation mourns victims of gunmen

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Australians fell silent in flickering candlelight yesterday to honour the Bondi Beach shooting victims, marking one week since gunmen fired into crowds at a Jewish festival.

A father and son are accused of tar-getting the beachside Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people, including children and Holocaust survivors, on one of the nation's darkest days.

From raucous city pubs to sleepy country towns, Australia observed a minute's silence at 6.47pm — exactly a week after the first reports of gunfire.

In a nationwide gesture of “light over darkness”, countless homes lined their windowsills with candles.

“We're here together,” said Roslyn Fishall, a member of Sydney's Jewish community.

“Turn to strangers and hug them. Let's make peace together,” she told AFP at a makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach.

Summer winds buffeted flags flying at half-mast across the country, including over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.