BBC presenter Nick Robinson has sparked outrage on social media after he compared the Bondi Beach mass shooting to the New Zealand mosque attacks. At least 16 people, including a child, were killed when two gunmen opened fire on an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah at the iconic location in Sydney on Sunday (December 14).
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the attack was “absolutely horrendous” for the community, but especially for the Jewish community. Mr Robinson, who co-presents BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, described the news as “grim” and said it has “echoes” of the October 7 massacre and that Jews in the UK will feel “painfully close” to the Manchester synagogue attack. He said it was a reminder that Jews all over the world live in fear.
He went on to write: “If you struggle to understand that fear – you may not have any Jewish family or friends as it is a very small community – I urge you to think of the impact on the Muslim and, indeed, the wider community of the Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand.”
Fifty-one people were killed and 89 others injured when Brenton Tarrant opened fire on worshippers at a mosque and Islamic centre in Christchurch in March 2019. Tarrant, who live-streamed the murders on Facebook, was sentenced to life.
Daily Express columnist, Angela Epstein, told Mr Robinson he had shamed himself by making the comparison. She replied to his tweet: “Why are Jewish people never allowed to have the dignity of mourning their loss without it always becoming an exercise in moral relativism ie shame for the Jews but what about others? You shame yourself, your profession and your position.”
Former Conservative MP, Nigel Evans, replied, telling Mr Robinson: “Totally misjudged Nick. Thank God the Bondi Beach Hero Ahmed El Ahmad just sprang into action – he didn’t over think it he simply got on with saving lives… My thoughts are with the Jewish Community in Australia and worldwide.”
Father-of-two Ahmed al Ahmed, from Sydney, has been widely hailed as a hero for tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him. Mr al Ahmed’s family said the 43-year-old fruit shop owner remains in hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and hand, and called him a “100% hero”.
X-user Jen Monroe asked the BBC presenter: “Is there some reason you think your average person can’t empathize with Jewish people?”
In another tweet, Mr Robinson said he was sad to see some had reacted angrily to his post. The veteran journalist said he had been trying to explain to people beyond the Jewish community the full horror of what happened and the fear it would reinforce in the community.
He wrote: “The comparison between today’s attack [and] the Christchurch mosque attack was meant to do that and that alone. It wasn’t an attempt to lessen the pain, fear and anger so many feel or to equate losses in one community with those in another.
“The Jewish community is tiny – less than a quarter of a million people. It is the job, maybe even the duty, of people like me – I’m Jewish by heritage although not by upbringing – to try to explain to others the wider significance of today’s horror.”
Meanwhile, it emerged later on Sunday that the gunmen were father and son. The older of the gunmen, a 50-year-old man, was shot by police and died at the scene, while his son, a 24-year-old, suffered critical injuries and was taken to the hospital under police guard.
British-born Eli Schlanger, 41, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, has been named as one of those killed. The father of five grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and had family at Kinloss Synagogue in Finchley, according to Jewish News. He and his wife, Chayala, celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, only two months ago.
