Fake quotes fuel Bondi Beach attack disinformation

Matthew Elmas December 16, 2025
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Several Facebook pages are spreading disinformation in the wake of the Bondi attacks. Image by Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

Pauline Hanson called the prime minister a "spineless coward".

OUR VERDICT

False. The quotes attributed to the senator are fake and were shared by a known disinformation operation.

AAP FACTCHECK - A group of foreign-run Facebook pages continue to spread disinformation about the Bondi mass shooting with AI-generated articles and fake quotes.

The pages, operated from Vietnam, have been posting false claims about the shooting multiple times a day, getting thousands of views, shares and likes from users.

AAP FactCheck has already debunked several posts about the terrorist attack from the pages, but one page - Swim Aquatics - has continued to post disinformation about the shooting and has begun including photos of the victims in its articles.

The latest claims follow a similar theme to earlier posts, focusing on Senator Pauline Hanson and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's purported reactions to the shooting.

One post claims Mr Albanese railed against Senator Hanson in a closed-door Labor Party meeting in the wake of the shooting after the senator blamed him for the attack.

"You tiny piece of garbage, get the hell back to your insignificant little party!" Mr Albanese is quoted as saying.

A screenshot of a Facebook post.
There are no reports of the quote attributed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (AAP/Facebook)

There is no evidence that the quotes are genuine. While the article claims they were leaked from a Labor meeting, there's been no such reporting and a caucus meeting hasn't occurred since the attack took place.

A web article linked in the post is bylined "Sarah Mitchell, political correspondent", but there's no record of a political journalist working in Australia with that name.

The article goes on to cite fabricated quotes from Senator Hanson responding to Mr Albanese, claiming the comments went "viral across social media".

"Anthony Albanese, you weak, spineless coward hiding behind your Labor cronies," the senator is quoted as saying.

Senator Hanson has not posted those remarks on any of her social media channels and there's no record of those quotes anywhere online other than Swim Aquatics' post.

A screenshot of a Facebook post.
The post about Mr Ackman links to an article that is filled with inaccuracies. (AAP/Facebook)

Another post from the same page focuses on US-based billionaire Bill Ackman's donation to a GoFundMe page for the man who disarmed one of the shooters.

Ahmed Al Ahmed is currently recovering from gunshot wounds, according to an ABC News report.

But a web article linked in the Swim Aquatics' post gets all the basic details wrong, suggesting he actually disarmed a man wielding a knife in Bondi Junction.

"As a knife-wielding attacker charged through the shopping centre, targeting Jewish shoppers in what police are now treating as an antisemitic terrorist incident, Ahmed dropped everything, sprinted across the floor, and tackled the assailant from behind, pinning him until security arrived," the article claims.

It appears to be referencing a stabbing attack that occurred in Bondi Junction in 2024, which did not involve Mr Al Ahmed or a citizen disarming the attacker.

The article then lists a series of fake quotes attributed to Mr Ackman, purportedly from a Fox Business interview, despite there being no record of the purported interview.

A makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach.
Several Facebook pages are spreading disinformation following the shooting. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

It also claims to quote Mr Al Ahmed himself saying he wants to "go back to work".

"People still need fruit," he is quoted as saying.

While it was initially reported he owned a fruit shop it has since emerged that he actually owns a convenience store, according to a news.com.au report.

A third post includes photos of one of the shooting victims, similar to a previous post that AAP FactCheck debunked on December 15.

An article linked in the post makes a series of false claims, including that the attack occurred at Bondi Junction when the shooting took place at Bondi Beach.

The article details several fake quotes from Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who has spoken in recent days about knowing many of the victims.

A screenshot of a Facebook post.
The post fabricates quotes from prominent Australian Jewish figure Alex Ryvchin. (AAP/Facebook)

The article includes quotes attributed to an interview Mr Rychin purportedly did with the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), detailing his relationship with one of the victims, Rabbi Eli Schlanger.

"We were young rabbis-in-training, full of dreams about building a stronger, kinder Jewish community," the article quotes Mr Ryvchin as saying.

"We promised each other that if anything ever happened, we would look after each other's families."

Though the SMH has quoted Mr Ryvchin several times in recent days, there is no record of those quotes on the SMH website or its daily print newspaper.

Another page similar to Swim Aquatics called "Tennis Triumph" has also begun posting disinformation about the Bondi terrorist attack.

Its posts also focus on Senator Hanson and Mr Albanese's purported reactions to the terror attack.

A screenshot of a Facebook post.
The Tennis Triumph page is also managed from Vietnam and posts similar political disinformation. (AAP/Facebook)

One post includes fake quotes attributed to Ms Hanson and links to an article that contains further falsehoods, including that the senator spoke in a "reconvened" parliament.

"Blood has been spilled on their hands, their families have cried until their tears ran dry," she is quoted as saying in the post and accompanying article.

Federal parliament has not reconvened in the wake of the attack. There's no record of the quotes.

Another post from Tennis Triumph repeats claims that AAP FactCheck debunked on December 15, claiming that Senator Hanson called for millions of Muslims to have their citizenship revoked.

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Sources

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