Another victim identified as Edith Brutman

Jewish couple tussled with Sydney terrorist before killing spree began — and were slain

Boris and Sofia Gurman seen in dashcam footage fighting with Sajid Akram before both were shot dead; Reuven Morrison seen hurling objects at gunman before he too was killed

New videos have emerged of unarmed bystanders who sought to thwart the gunmen in the Bondi Beach Hanukkah terror attack and paid for their heroism with their lives.

The chilling footage shows how the terrorists — father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram — were almost stopped before they began their killing spree on the Jewish gathering in Sydney, Australia, which left at least 15 dead.

In one video, published from dashcam footage, an older couple is seen tussling with Sajid as he emerges from a vehicle that is draped with an Islamic State flag.

The couple, who were shot dead by the terrorists, have been named in Australian media as Boris and Sofia Gurman, 69 and 61, Russian-Jewish immigrants who lived in the neighborhood. It was not clear if they were heading to the Hanukkah event or just happened to be passing by.

The video footage from a passing vehicle shows Boris tackling Sajid and disarming him, before briefly picking up his rifle and aiming it at the attacker.

However, the terrorist apparently pulled out another weapon and shot both Boris and Sofia dead before going on to open fire on the Hanukkah event from a nearby pedestrian footbridge, along with his son Naveed. Later footage showed the couple lifeless on the ground in each other’s arms.

“We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris and Sofia Gurman,” the family said in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In recent days, we have become aware of footage showing Boris, with Sofia by his side, courageously attempting to disarm an attacker in an effort to protect others,” the statement continued.

“While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness. This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were – people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others,” the family added.

Australian media outlets reported that the couple had been married for 34 years and are survived by their son. Boris was a retired mechanic, while Sofia worked for the Australia Post service, according to the family.

Another victim of the shooting attack was identified on Tuesday as Edith Brutman.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported she was the vice president of an anti-prejudice and anti-discrimination committee at B’nai B’rith New South Wales.

“Former vice president of ADU and long-time member of Aviv, Edith Brutman, was killed in the massacre. She was a gracious woman and a devoted member of B’nai B’rith NSW,” B’nai B’rith said in a statement.

Her age was not provided.

Reuven Morrison tried to stop Sajid Akram

Footage also has emerged showing Reuven Morrison, who was murdered in the attack, throwing bricks at one of the gunmen.

The video shows Morrison, a 62-year-old grandfather, hurling items at Sajid Akram, after Ahmed Al Ahmed had disarmed him. Morrison was then shot dead by Naveed Akram.

“My dear father, Reuven Morrison, was shot dead for being Jewish at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach,” his daughter, Sheina Gutnick told CBS News.

He “jumped up the second the shooting started,” she said. “He managed to throw bricks, he was screaming at the terrorist and protecting his community, he was shot dead.”

“If there was one way for him to go on this Earth, it would be fighting a terrorist,” she told CBS. “There was no other way he would be taken from us. He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved most.”

His close friend, Vladimir, told The Daily Mail that Morrison “was trying to get people to get down out of the way and then maybe disarm the shooter on the ground, he was walking towards him to fight him.”

Vladimir said that he then saw Morrison get shot, “hit in the kidneys, I think. I was there when he died.”

He said that at one point he walked toward one of the shooters, who seemed to wave him away: “I think he thought I wasn’t with the Hanukkah event,” Vladimir told the news site. “But I am Jewish.”

Vladimir said that Morrison “died a hero trying to save his community and it cost him his life.”

ABC Australia noted that a year before he was killed, Morrison warned the news outlet about the threat to Jews in the country.

“We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such antisemitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment,” Morrison told ABC in an article published in December 2024 following the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne.

Another video that emerged recently from the harrowing attack shows a woman comforting a young child she doesn’t know as she lies on top of her to protect her from gunfire.

Repeated gunfire and screaming can be heard in the background, and the two gunmen can be seen in the background of the video.

Jessica Rozen told The Guardian that she was desperately searching for her own 3-year-old when she found the small child screaming and alone, and lay on top of her to protect her.

“I got you, I got you,” she can be heard saying repeatedly to the little girl. “We’re gonna stay here and we’re gonna be nice and safe and nobody’s going to hurt us.”

“Can you hide?” the girl asks.

“Yes, we can hide, baby girl,” Rozen is heard responding. She said she stayed with the child until the girl’s father found them.

Rozen said her own son was with his grandmother, who lay on top of him to protect him as the two gunmen opened fire on the Jewish celebration.

At least 15 people were murdered by the father-and-son terrorists when they opened fire on a Chabad Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, the first night of the holiday. Another 40 were injured, and more than 20 remain hospitalized, including several in critical condition.

Many questions have emerged in the aftermath of the massacre, with the Jewish community saying it had issued many unheeded warnings of soaring antisemitism in Australia. Authorities are also facing questions on the slow police response to the incident, with the gunmen able to fire at the crowd for close to 10 minutes before being thwarted.

Another civilian hero, Ahmed al Ahmed, tackled Sajid and disarmed him before being shot several times in the arm and shoulder. Al Ahmed is hospitalized and expected to recover.