BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt reported on the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi beach shooting
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty described the Bondi beach shooting as an “awful, awful incident” as she launched Thursday’s programme (December 18). The attack at Bondi beach on Sunday claimed 15 lives, striking as crowds gathered for an event celebrating the opening day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival.
Thursday’s edition of the BBC programme featured coverage of the funeral service for 10-year-old Matilda, the attack’s youngest casualty, reports the Express. BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt informed audiences: “Ten-year-old Matilda was among 15 people who were shot dead as two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the start of Hanukkah on Bondi beach on Sunday. It comes as Australia’s leader Anthony Albanese says he will now introduce tougher laws to tackle anti-Semitism.”
The programme then crossed to Sydney correspondent Phil Mercer, who reported: “There are more tears in Australia for the victims of the Bondi shooting… Her funeral has been held in Sydney, attended by hundreds of mourners. Matilda’s family came from Ukraine to start a new life in Australia, where she was born.”
He went on: “Stung by criticism that he failed to stem a rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a crackdown on hate and radicalisation. He’s acknowledged the scale of the problem and the challenges ahead. The Prime Minister insisted that there is no place in his country for religious bigotry.”
“Australia remains traumatised by the attack at its most famous beach,” said the correspondent. “There will be more funerals, more tears, as the victims of the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years are laid to rest.”
Matilda’s aunt, Lina Chernykh, was also interviewed and shared: “I see my brother and his partner, absolutely devastated, absolutely. Like I look on their faces, I don’t know if they will be ever happy again. I hope it’s maybe she is an angel now, maybe she sent some good vibes to the world, maybe, maybe.”
The programme then switched to correspondent Katie Watson, also based in Australia, with Naga remarking: “Katie, just seeing where you are and seeing who could pay tribute to those victims of this dreadful, dreadful incident and people will be shocked a 10 year old girl being buried today.”
Katie responded: “It was another packed ceremony earlier today when they laid Matilda to rest. People there remembering a lively, bubbly young girl who was very protective over her young sister.” “There’s 15 people dead after Sunday’s shooting and the whole community has come together in grief and in mourning,” she continued.
Authorities have confirmed that the two gunmen were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead at the scene, while his son Naveed, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder.
BBC Breakfast is broadcast on BBC One from 6am
