GoFundMe has launched a centralized platform of verified fundraisers for those affected by the Bondi Beach mass shooting, which is Australia’s most deadly attack of this kind in 30 years. Sixteen individuals lost their lives, including one of the two shooters, and more than 40 others sustained injuries.
On Sunday afternoon, gunfire erupted at a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Such mass shootings are exceedingly rare in Australia, and these recent occurrences have left the nation reeling. The Bondi incident marks the most lethal mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to substantial reforms in gun legislation. In light of the Bondi shooting, Australia is already taking steps to further bolster its gun control measures.
Regrettably, scammers frequently take advantage of such tragedies by creating dishonest fundraisers. These fraudulent campaigns purport to collect donations for victims but lack any genuine ties to those impacted and no intention of delivering aid.
To address this issue, GoFundMe has established a platform featuring verifiable fundraisers for the Bondi Beach shooting, endorsed by its Trust and Safety Team. Those looking to support the victims can contribute to these verified fundraisers, which are accompanied by GoFundMe’s assurance of a complete refund if any are found to be deceitful.
A memorial has been erected at Bondi in honor of the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting.
At present, four fundraisers are highlighted in GoFundMe’s platform. Two are collecting donations for the families of two victims who were killed in the shooting: 10-year-old Matilda and 41-year-old Rabbi Eli Schlanger. A third supports Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old shopkeeper who bravely confronted and disarmed one of the attackers. He was shot multiple times in the arm and is currently recuperating in the hospital. The fourth fundraiser aims to raise funds for both Ahmed and the families of the victims in general.
At the time of writing, donors have pledged over $AU2.8 million ($1.9 million) to these four GoFundMe campaigns, with nearly 48,000 individual contributions. Over $AU2 million ($1.3 million) has been contributed to Ahmed’s GoFundMe, with numerous donors leaving messages of encouragement from across the globe.
“You demonstrated that Australia is a home for all of us, and when it matters, we safeguard one another,” wrote donor Zhen Liu.
GoFundMe routinely establishes verified fundraising platforms for significant events, having previously done so for several mass shootings in the U.S.
Australians gathered to donate blood at the Town Hall Lifeblood Donor Centre in Sydney the day following the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
Alongside donating to fundraisers and placing flowers at Bondi, Australians have reacted to the shooting by showing up in droves to give blood. Long queues quickly formed at donation centers, surpassing the previous record held by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for the most blood, plasma, and platelets donated in a 24-hour period.
“We’ve observed an extraordinary, record-breaking response from the community,” Australian Red Cross Lifeblood stated on its official Facebook account. “Please consider donating blood or plasma in the upcoming weeks, as the need will continue into January.”