Married 60 Years, Couple Died Fighting Terrorists at Hanukkah Celebration
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Boris Gurman attacked a terrorist as he exited his vehicle at Sunday night’s Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, an act of bravery that cost both him and his wife Sophia their lives, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday.
Boris and Sophia Gurman were married for 60 years before they were killed together while fighting back against terrorists who attacked a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday night, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“Boris attacked one of these terrorists as he got out of the car, and that caused Mr and Mrs Gurman, who’ve been married for 60 years, to lose their life,” Albanese said Tuesday outside St Vincent’s Hospital, where he thanked medical staff who treated victims.
The Prime Minister called the Gurmans “Australian heroes,” along with Reuven Morrison, who threw bricks attempting to stop the attack and was also murdered by the terrorists.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced the findings at a joint press conference alongside federal and state police commissioners, pledging comprehensive reforms to address what they called an anti-Semitic attack on Jewish Australians celebrating Hanukkah.
What happened
The attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, the eight-day Jewish festival also called the Festival of Lights. Authorities believe the attack was inspired by ISIS ideology and involved multiple assailants, though Albanese did not provide complete details about the sequence of events.
Boris Gurman confronted at least one terrorist as that person exited a vehicle, according to the Prime Minister’s account. The confrontation resulted in both Boris and Sophia being killed. It’s not clear from Albanese’s statement whether Sophia was also actively fighting back or whether she was killed during Boris’s confrontation with the attacker.
The terrorists died during the attack. Albanese said they were “prepared to die for their cause.”
The other heroes
Reuven Morrison was also killed while attempting to stop the attack. The Prime Minister said Morrison threw bricks at the terrorists.
Ahmed El Ahmed, another person who took action during the attack, survived but was undergoing surgery Tuesday for his injuries. Albanese visited El Ahmed on Monday and also called him “an Australian hero.”
Who were the Gurmans
Albanese described Boris and Sophia as refugees who had built a life in Australia, though he did not specify when they arrived or from which country they fled. Their 60-year marriage ended in what the Prime Minister called an “act of anti-Semitism” and “an act of terror.”
The Prime Minister did not provide additional biographical information about the couple, their family, or their connection to the Jewish community gathering where they were killed.
Why people fight back during attacks
Research on civilian responses to active shooter and terror situations shows that fighting back can save lives by disrupting attackers and preventing them from harming additional victims. However, it also exposes resistors to extreme danger.
Security experts generally advise “run, hide, fight” as a last-resort hierarchy: escape if possible, hide if escape isn’t possible, and fight only when hiding isn’t an option. Boris Gurman’s decision to attack a terrorist as he exited the vehicle represents the “fight” response under extreme circumstances.
The ISIS connection
Albanese said investigators believe the attack was ISIS-inspired. ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is an extremist organization that promotes a violent interpretation of Islam and has inspired attacks worldwide, including in Australia.
“It is difficult and this is something the world is dealing with,” Albanese said when asked how to combat people “prepared to die for their cause.”
The Prime Minister called the attackers’ ideology a “perversion of Islam” and emphasized they were “evil.”
Government response
The government is reviewing potential legislative changes and additional powers for police and security agencies, though Albanese provided no specifics or timeline. He said Australia needs to “stamp out and eradicate anti-Semitism from our society” and called out “the evil ideology of what would appear to be, from the investigators, an ISIS-inspired attack.”
Rising anti-Semitism
Albanese acknowledged “a rise in Australia and around the world since October 7” in anti-Semitism, referring to the date in 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
The Prime Minister noted that anti-Semitism “has been around for a long period of time” and that his government appointed Jillian Segal as Australia’s first special envoy on anti-Semitism. He said many nations, including the United States, have had such envoys for years.
Community mourning
Funerals for victims began Tuesday. Albanese met with family members of Rabbi Eli, another victim, on Monday, describing the family as going through “an extraordinarily difficult time.”
On Monday night, Governor-General Sam Mostyn hosted rabbis and Jewish community leaders at Admiralty House. Albanese and Rabbi Ben Elton of the Sydney Synagogue lit Hanukkah candles together, symbolizing “the victory of light over darkness,” according to the Prime Minister.
What’s not answered
Key details remain unclear: the total number of casualties, how many attackers there were, the specific sequence of events, and whether the Gurmans knew each other or Morrison before the attack. Albanese did not specify these details in his Tuesday remarks.
What happens next
Funerals continue this week. The government is working with Jewish community leaders on potential legislative responses and enhanced security measures, though no specific proposals have been announced.
Ahmed El Ahmed remains hospitalized following Tuesday’s surgery. The Prime Minister said “our thoughts are with him today.”
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