Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn has explained she ‘ran for her life’ as armed terrorists opened fire on Bondi Beach, which has seen dozens injured and 12 people dead
A Married At First Sight star “ran for her life” during the Bondi Beach terror attack. Lauren Dunn, who appeared on the show last year, only recently moved to the area.
Earlier today, over 1,000 people were attending an event on the beach to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire from a small bridge, crossing from a car park and heading towards the beach. New South Wales police responded to reports of gunfire at around 18:47 local time (7:47am GMT), with hundreds of people fleeing from the scene.
It has since been confirmed that at least 12 people, including London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, have been killed. One of the offenders has been killed, while the second remains in custody.
A heroic bystander, Ahmed al Ahemd, 43, was seen rushing to confront one gunman and eventually disarmed him. Lauren, 37, has now explained that she had headed out of her flat to grab food on what was supposed to have been a chill night.
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At first, she heard what she believed to be a car backfiring, which was nothing out of the ordinary. “Then people started running and screaming, and the police shouted for everyone to get inside,” she said.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she added that she “ran for her life” and saw countless people running from the festival on the beach, which included children petting “fluffy animals”. Despite Lauren making it back to her apartment, some of her friends were not as fortunate.
She said that a group chat with friends was flooded with videos from the scene, which showed “dead bodies everywhere.” Lauren watched from her balcony as helicopters started to circle the beach, as a warning from loudspeakers urged people to stay indoors. She added: “It’s so disgusting, it’s people just living their lives. I can’t believe this has happened here.
“In the US, you see it every week. You don’t ever expect to see it in Bondi.” One of the shooters has since been identified as Naveed Akram after police raided his home in Western Sydney.
Around 29 people, including two police officers, have been injured and rushed to hospitals across Sydney. Suspicious items had also been found in the area, including an improvised explosive device.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a press conference: “I very sadly need to report that, as of now, there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed.
“One of the offenders has also been killed and one is in custody. This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, what should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”
New South Wales Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyan, told a press conference that the incident had been declared as a terrorist incident and police now have special powers to investigate the possibility of a third offender.
He said: “At about 6.47pm this evening, police started to receive a number of reports of shots fired at Archer Park at Bondi. Archer Park is a grassed area just north of the Bondi pavilion. Police responded promptly.
“Unfortunately, at least 12 people are deceased at this time, 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.
“The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions. Our thoughts, prayers and love go to all the families and all of those that were involved tonight, we know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion, the celebration of Hannukah.
Source: Mirror
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