NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) 鈥� Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans Thursday for a national bravery award to recognize civilians and first responders who confronted 鈥渢he worst of evil鈥� during an antisemitic terror attack that left 15 dead and has cast a heavy shadow over the nation鈥檚 holiday season.
Albanese said he plans to establish a special honors system for those who placed themselves in harms way to help during the attack on a beachside celebration, like , a Syrian-Australian Muslim who disarmed one of the assailants before being wounded himself.
Sajid Akram, who was killed by police during the Dec. 14 attack, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram are accused of perpetrating Australia鈥檚 since 1996.
Speaking at a press conference after a Christmas Day lunch at a charitable foundation in Sydney, Albanese described a Christmas defined by a sharp contrast between extremist violence and the 鈥渂est of humanity.鈥�
鈥淭his Christmas is a different one because of the anti-terror and the terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and antisemitism,鈥� Albanese said. 鈥淏ut at the same time as we have seen the worst of humanity, we have seen the bravery and kindness and compassion … from those who rushed to danger.鈥�
The proposed honors would recognize those who are nominated and recommended for bravery or meritorious awards under the existing Australian Honors and Awards system for their actions during and after the attack.
‘Difficult fortnight’
Just a day after pushing through the country’s toughest firearm laws, New South Wales state leader Chris Minns issued a plea for national solidarity, urging Australians to support their Jewish neighbors during what he described as a fortnight of 鈥渉eartbreak and pain.鈥�
鈥淓verybody in Australia needs to wrap their arms around them and lift them up,鈥� Minns said at the same press conference Thursday. 鈥淚 want them to know that Australians have got their back. We鈥檙e in their corner and we鈥檙e going to help them get through this.鈥�
Tougher gun laws
The which passed through the New South Wales state legislature on Christmas Eve include capping individual gun ownership at four and reclassifying high-risk weapons like pump-action firearms.
The legislation also tightens licensing by reducing permit terms to two years, restricting ownership to Australian citizens, and removing the review pathway for license denials.
鈥淕un reform alone will not solve hatred or extremism, but we can鈥檛 fail to act on restricting access to weapons which could lead to further violence against our citizens, Minns said earlier in the week when introducing the proposed laws.
Other new laws will ban the public display of terrorist symbols and grant police expanded powers to restrict public gatherings in specific areas following terrorist incidents.
Albanese has also announced plans to .
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