Australia holds a minute’s silence for Bondi Beach shooting victims

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Children visiting a small memorial to the mass shooting victims look out to the sea at Bondi Beach in Sydney, on Dec 20.

PHOTO: MATTHEW ABBOTT/NYTIMES

SYDNEY - Millions of Australians will light candles and observe a minute’s silence on Dec 21, a week after

a pair of gunmen fired into crowds

A father and son are accused of targeting the family-thronged Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach, striking on a sunny day at a tourism hotspot that is emblematic of Australians’ ocean-loving lifestyle.

Gunman Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the December 14 assault. His 24-year-old son Naveed, who survived and remains in hospital under police guard, is facing charges including terrorism and 15 murders.

Authorities say the attack, one of the deadliest in Australian history,

was inspired by “Islamic State ideology”

Exactly a week after the first reports of gunfire at 6.47pm (3.47pm Singapore time),Australians will fall silent for a minute on a national day of reflection with the theme “light over darkness”.

Flags will fly at half-mast, and people are being asked to light a candle in their windows to honour the victims and stand by the Jewish community, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on the eve of the memorial.

“Sixty seconds carved out from the noise of daily life, dedicated to 15 Australians who should be with us today,” said the prime minister, who will join commemorations at Bondi Beach.

“It will be a moment of