BBC Breakfast

Naga Munchetty addressed the Bondi beach shooting minutes into BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC screengrab)

BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty called the Bondi beach shooting an “awful, awful incident” as she opened the show on Thursday (December 18).

Fifteen people were killed in the shooting attack at Bondi beach on Sunday, which took place as many people were at an event to mark the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

The latest instalment of the BBC programme included a segment on the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim.

BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt told viewers: “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 show then cut to Sydney correspondent Phil Mercer, who said: “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.”

BBC Breakfast

The programme included a report on the attack in Australia (Image: BBC screengrab)

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Matilda’s aunt, Lina Chernykh, was also interviewed and said: “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 show then cut to correspondent Katie Watson, also in Australia, with Naga saying: “Katie, just seeing where you are and seeing people pay tribute to those victims of this awful, awful incident and people will be shocked a 10-year-old girl being buried today.”

Katie said: “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.”

BBC Breakfast

Matilda was the youngest victim of the attack (Image: BBC screengrab)

“There’s 15 people dead after Sunday’s shooting and the whole community has come together in grief and in mourning,” she went on.

Police have said 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