Australian PM calls royal commission into antisemitism following Bondi Beach terror attack

CANBERRA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday called a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia in the wake of the terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Albanese announced at a press conference in Canberra that his government will establish a royal commission, the highest form of inquiry in Australia, which will be led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell and deliver a report by mid-December.

"I've taken the time to reflect, to meet with leaders in the Jewish community and most importantly, I've met with many of the families of victims and survivors of that horrific attack," he said.

The prime minister said that the inquiry would investigate the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia, make recommendations to law enforcement to tackle antisemitism, examine the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack, and make recommendations on strengthening social cohesion.

"I've repeatedly said that our government's priority is to promote unity and social cohesion, and this is what Australia needs to heal, to learn, to come together in a spirit of national unity," he said.

The alleged lone surviving gunman, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, over the attack, which authorities allege was motivated by Islamic State ideology. Enditem